Point-to-point ad hoc voice communication

ABSTRACT

A wireless communication device establishes voice communication between a supported user and a selected remote device supporting another user via a point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link. The device selects a particular remote device, establishes an ad hoc network link with the selected remote device, and communicates voice communication signals with the selected remote device. Selection can be based upon a user interaction with the device which specifies the particular remote device. The user interaction can include interaction with a graphical representation of the particular remote device presented in a graphical user interface. The user interaction can include an audio command received via an audio interface of the device. The device can include one or more headset devices, including a pair of headset devices which can be switched between providing audio signals to a single user to supporting communication between separate users via an ad hoc network link.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/112,555, filed Aug. 24, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/633,468, filed Jun. 26, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No.10,064,233, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/552,155, filed Nov. 24, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,693,375, all ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

This disclosure relates generally to communication via wirelessnetworks, and relates particularly to voice communication via a wirelessad hoc network.

Description of the Related Art

In some cases, conditions for direct audio communication between usersin close proximity may be less than ideal. For example, where twoindividuals are in close proximity in a noisy environment, direct (i.e.spoken) audio communication between the individuals may be difficult inview of interference from ambient noise, which can hinder one or bothindividuals from being able to distinguish words spoken by the otherindividual. Such ambient noises may require both individuals to approachwithin a certain proximity of each other, which can hinder freedom ofmovement of one or both users for the duration of the directcommunication. In some cases, unhindered freedom of movement of one orboth users may be desirable. For example, the users may desire tomaintain a minimum distance between each other for cultural reasons,lack of familiarity with each other, a desire to avoid impinging uponeach other's personal space, a desire to minimize contact with bodilyodors and discharges of other individuals, some combination thereof,etc.

While the advent of mobile communication devices, including cellularcommunication devices, satellite communication devices, Internetcommunication systems, etc., has enabled mobile communication amongindividuals in a variety of locations, mobile communication systems maynot be ideal for enabling communication between users in close proximitywith each other. In particular, many mobile communication systems,including cellular communication systems, satellite communicationsystems, Voice over IP (VoIP) communications using an Internetconnection, communications using a Wi-Fi® LAN connection, etc. can havelatencies (e.g., 500 milliseconds) which can result from signals betweendevices being routed through various network nodes between the twodevices (e.g., routers, cell towers, satellites, etc.). Such latenciescan, in close-proximity settings, hinder communications between users.For example, where two users communicating with each other via cellularcommunication devices over a cellular network are within sufficientlyclose proximity such that a user can perceive body gestures and at leastsome vocal sounds generated by the other user, latencies associated withthe cellular connection can result in a perceptible temporaldiscontinuity between audio signals received from the other user via anaudio interface of the user's cellular device and the directly-observedbody gestures and sounds of the other user.

Furthermore, configurations of many communication devices cancomplicate, if not outright hinder, close-proximity audio communicationsbetween users, as time requirements involved in establishing audiocommunication with particular users can have a pronounced effect whenusers are in close proximity. For example, a user desiring to establishaudio communication with another user in close proximity via a cellularphone may need to access a contact address database in the cellularphone via a contact address application, navigate to a contract entry inthe database which is associated with the other user, identify andselect a contact address in the entry, and wait for a connection link tobe established with another cellular phone of the other user, all whilethe other user remains in close proximity. Such a process can imposetime delays, in addition to the above-described latencies, on voicecommunication which can be more pronounced when the users desiring tocommunicate are within close proximity. In some cases, the process forestablishing a voice communication session over communication devicescan require more time than the session itself. In addition, where a userdesires to initiate voice communication with a another user for whom theuser does not have a present contact address entry, the above processcan be lengthened by a process of acquiring contact address information,inputting such information into the user's communication device, etc.Such a configuration is less than ideal.

SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS

Some embodiments provide a device which is configured to enable voicecommunication between a supported user and at least one remote user viaa point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link. The device comprises awireless communication transceiver, an audio communication interface,and a point-to-point voice communication module. The wirelesscommunication transceiver is configured to communicate with one or moreremote devices supporting at least one remote user via a point-to-pointwireless ad hoc network link. The audio communication interface isconfigured to communicate voice communication signals between an audiointerface of the device and the wireless communication transceiver. Thepoint-to-point voice communication module is interoperable with thewireless communication transceiver and audio communication interface toestablish a point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link with a selectedremote device, of the one or more remote devices, and communicate voicecommunication signals with the selected remote device via the link,based at least in part upon a user interaction with the device whichidentifies a particular remote device as the selected remote device andcommands establishing point-to-point wireless ad hoc voice communicationwith the selected remote device.

The device can include an interface module configured to provide, to thesupported user, an identification of at least some of the plurality ofremote devices. In some embodiments, the user interface module isconfigured to provide, to the supported user, an audio identification ofat least some of the plurality of remote devices via the audio interfaceof the device; and the user interaction with the device comprises anaudio command, received via the audio interface, which identifies theparticular remote device as the selected remote device and commandsestablishing point-to-point wireless ad hoc voice communication with theselected remote device. In some embodiments, the user interface moduleis configured to provide, to the supported user, a graphical userinterface comprising a plurality of separate graphical representationswhich are each associated with a separate remote device of the pluralityof remote devices; and the user interaction with the device comprises auser interaction with a particular graphical representation, of theplurality of graphical representations, which is associated with theparticular remote device.

In some embodiments, the device comprises a wireless communicationheadset device configured to establish a point-to-point wireless ad hocnetwork link with at least one remote wireless communication headsetdevice supporting at least one remote user. The wireless communicationheadset device can be comprised in a pair of headset devices configuredto exchange voice communication signals via a wireless ad hoc networklink to collectively provide a stereo audio experience for a singlesupported user and switch from collectively providing the stereo audioexperience for the single user to individually supporting a separatesupported user and exchanging voice communication signals between theseparate supported users via the wireless ad hoc network link, based atleast in part upon user interaction with one or more user interfacesincluded in one or more of the pair of headset devices. Thepoint-to-point voice communication module can be interoperable with thewireless communication transceiver and audio communication interface topresent, to a supported user, an audio message which includes anidentification of a plurality of remote devices and a query to selectone or more remote device of the plurality of remote devices for voicecommunication via a point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link, andselect a particular remote device, from the plurality of remote devices,as the selected remote device and establish a point-to-point wireless adhoc network link with the selected remote device based at least in partupon receiving an audio command from the supported user to establishvoice communication with the particular remote device.

In some embodiments, the audio interface comprises at least onemicrophone device, and the audio communication interface is configuredto at least partially filter ambient noise, relative to sounds generatedby the supported user, from audio signals received at the microphonedevice to generate filtered audio signals, such that the voicecommunication signals communicated via the wireless ad hoc network linkcomprise the filtered audio signals. In some embodiments, thepoint-to-point wireless ad hoc network link comprises a point-to-pointmobile ad hoc network link.

Some embodiments provide a method performed, by at least one wirelesscommunication device supporting a user, which includes exchanging voicecommunication signals with at least one remotely located wirelesscommunication device via a point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link,based at least in pan upon determining a user-initiated selection of theat least one remotely located wireless communication device via at leastone user interface of the at least one wireless communication device.Exchanging voice communication signals can include identifying aplurality of remotely-located devices within a geographical proximity ofthe at least one computer device and establishing the point-to-pointwireless ad hoc network link with the at least one particularremotely-located device, based at least in part upon determining auser-initiated selection of the at least one remotely located wirelesscommunication device from the plurality of remotely located devices viaat least one user interface of the at least one wireless communicationdevice.

In some embodiments, providing an indication of at least a portion ofthe plurality of remotely located devices to the user via at least oneuser interface of the at least one wireless communication devicecomprises providing a graphical user interface comprising graphicalrepresentations individually associated with separate remotely locateddevices of at least a portion of the plurality of remotely locateddevices. In some embodiments, determining a user-initiated selection ofthe at least one remotely located wireless communication device from theplurality of remotely located devices via at least one user interface ofthe at least one wireless communication device comprises determining auser interaction with a particular graphical representation, comprisedin the graphical user interface, which is associated with the at leastone particular remotely located device.

Providing an indication of at least a portion of the plurality ofremotely located devices to the user via at least one user interface ofthe at least one wireless communication device can include providing, tothe user via an audio interface, an audio indication of at least aportion of the plurality of remotely located devices. Determining auser-initiated selection of the at least one remotely located wirelesscommunication device from the plurality of remotely located devices viaat least one user interface of the at least one wireless communicationdevice can include determining a receipt, via the audio interface of anaudio command selecting the at least one particular remotely locateddevice.

Some embodiments provide a non-transitory computer readable storagemedium comprising a program of instructions that, when executed by oneor more computer systems included in at least one wireless communicationdevice supporting a user, cause at least a portion of the at least onewireless communication device to exchange voice communication signalswith at least one remotely located wireless communication device via apoint-to-point wireless ad hoc network link, based at least in part upondetermining a user-initiated selection of the at least one remotelylocated wireless communication device via at least one user interface ofthe at least one wireless communication device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates users communicating via a point-to-point wireless adhoc network link between wireless communication devices supporting therespective users, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates wireless communication devices supporting separateusers and enabling voice communication between the separate users via apoint-to-point wireless ad hoc network link between the wirelesscommunication devices, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates wireless communication devices which each include oneor more wireless communication headset devices and communicate via apoint-to-point wireless ad hoc network link between separate wirelesscommunication headset devices.

FIG. 4A-B illustrate a set of wireless communication headset deviceswhich can be switched between collectively providing a stereo audioexperience for a single supported user and individually supportingseparate supported users and exchanging voice communication signals viaa wireless ad hoc network link, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram schematic of a wireless communicationdevice configured to enable voice communication between a supported userand at least one remote user via a point-to-point wireless ad hocnetwork link, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 6A-E illustrate graphical user interfaces, displayed on one or moreuser interfaces of one or more devices, which enable user-imitatedestablishment of voice communication, via a wireless ad hoc networklink, with one or more selected devices, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 6F illustrates wireless communication devices supporting separateusers and enabling voice communication between the separate users and aremote device, via point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link between aprimary wireless communication device and secondary wirelesscommunication devices and a separate communication link between theprimary wireless communication device and the remote device, accordingto some embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates a process for establishing voice communication with aselected remote device via a wireless ad hoc network link, according tosome embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates a process for exchanging voice communication signalswith a selected remote device via a wireless ad hoc network link,according to some embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating portable multifunction device inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates a portable multifunction device having a touchscreen in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example computer system that may be configured toinclude or execute any or all of the embodiments described above.

This specification includes references to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment.” The appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “inan embodiment” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.Particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined inany suitable manner consistent with this disclosure.

“Comprising.” This term is open-ended. As used in the appended claims,this term does not foreclose additional structure or steps. Consider aclaim that recites: “An apparatus comprising one or more processor units. . . ” Such a claim does not foreclose the apparatus from includingadditional components (e.g., a network interface unit, graphicscircuitry, etc.).

“Configured To.” Various units, circuits, or other components may bedescribed or claimed as “configured to” perform a task or tasks. In suchcontexts, “configured to” is used to connote structure by indicatingthat the units/circuits/components include structure (e.g., circuitry)that performs those task or tasks during operation. As such, theunit/circuit/component can be said to be configured to perform the taskeven when the specified unit/circuit/component is not currentlyoperational (e.g., is not on). The units/circuits/components used withthe “configured to” language include hardware for example, circuits,memory storing program instructions executable to implement theoperation, etc. Reciting that a unit/circuit/component is “configuredto” perform one or more tasks is expressly intended not to invoke 35U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph, for that unit/circuit/component.Additionally, “configured to” can include generic structure (e.g.,generic circuitry) that is manipulated by software and/or firmware(e.g., an FPGA or a general-purpose processor executing software) tooperate in manner that is capable of performing the task(s) at issue.“Configure to” may also include adapting a manufacturing process (e.g.,a semiconductor fabrication facility) to fabricate devices (e.g.,integrated circuits) that are adapted to implement or perform one ormore tasks.

“First,” “Second,” etc. As used herein, these terms are used as labelsfor nouns that they precede, and do not imply any type of ordering(e.g., spatial, temporal, logical, etc.). For example, a buffer circuitmay be described herein as performing write operations for “first” and“second” values. The terms “first” and “second” do not necessarily implythat the first value must be written before the second value.

“Based On” As used herein, this term is used to describe one or morefactors that affect a determination. This term does not forecloseadditional factors that may affect a determination. That is, adetermination may be solely based on those factors or based, at least inpart, on those factors. Consider the phrase “determine A based on B.”While in this case, B is a factor that affects the determination of A,such a phrase does not foreclose the determination of A from also beingbased on C. In other instances. A may be determined based solely on B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Introduction

In some embodiments, a wireless communication device is configured toenable voice communication between a supported user of the wirelesscommunication device and one or more other users supported by one ormore remotely located wireless communication devices, referred to hereinas “remote devices”, via one or more wireless ad hoc network linksbetween the wireless communication device can the one or more remotedevices. The wireless ad hoc network links can be peer-to-peer links,also referred to herein as point-to-point links, such that intermediarydevices (e.g., routers, signal relays, cellular towers, etc.) are absentin a link between two wireless communication devices. Such links can bereferred to as “direct” links between the devices.

Voice communication between users over a wireless ad hoc network linkbetween separate devices supporting the respective users can enablelow-latency voice communication between users in close proximity. Theabsence of intermediary devices in a point-to-point wireless ad hocnetwork link can result in reduced latency of the link, relative tolinks established via other communication systems (e.g., cellularcommunications, communications via a network established by a networkrouter, satellite communications, etc.). As a result, where twoindividuals are in close proximity in a noisy environment, and direct(i.e. spoken) audio communication between the individuals may bedifficult in view of interference from ambient noise, which can hinderone or both individuals from being able to distinguish words spoken bythe other individual, the point-to-point wireless ad hoc network linkbetween separate devices supporting a separate one of the respectiveusers can augment communications between the two users. For example,where two users communicating with each other via a point-to-pointwireless ad hoc network link between separate devices supporting aseparate one of the respective users are within sufficiently closeproximity such that a user can perceive body gestures and at least somevocal sounds generated by the other user, the lower latency associatedwith the point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link can result in anegligible perceptible, if not imperceptible, temporal discontinuitybetween audio signals received from the other user via an audiointerface of the user's cellular device and the directly-observed bodygestures and sounds of the other user. For example, an audio signalreceived from a device supporting a proximate individual via apoint-to-point wireless ad hoc network link having a latency ofapproximately 20-25 milliseconds may be perceived to be receivedsimultaneously with directly hearing said audio signal generated by theproximate individual and direct visual observation of body gesturesgenerated by the proximate individual (e.g., mouth movements) associatedwith such audio signals. Thus, a mitigation of discontinuity betweenaudio signals provided to a user from a supporting device via an audiointerface and direct audio signals received directly from the anotheruser and observed body gestures of the other user can result in aseamless communication experience for the supported user.

Furthermore, voice communication between users over a wireless ad hocnetwork link between separate devices supporting the respective userscan enable the users to engage in discreet communications which are noteasily overheard by other proximate individuals (e.g., communicationbetween two individuals in a crowded room) while retaining freedom ofmovement of the respective users. As wireless ad hoc network links caninclude signal encryption, discreetness of the voice communicationbetween users via the wireless ad hoc network link can be enhanced,relative to other broadcast-based communication systems (e.g.,communication via two-way radio transceivers, sometimes referred to as“walkie-talkie” devices). As a result, because the users can communicateover secure wireless communication links while retaining freedom ofmovement within a “range” of each other based on the wirelesscommunication transceivers of the devices supporting the users, theexistence of communication between a particular group of two or moreindividuals may not be visually apparent, as the individuals may not behuddled in close proximity to enable the individuals to distinguishdirectly spoken words over ambient noises.

In some embodiments, a wireless communication device is configured toenable point-to-point voice communication between a supported user andone or more users supported by one or more particular remote devicesover a wireless ad hoc network link, based at least in part upon aselection of the particular remote devices. The particular remotedevices can be selected based at least in part upon user interactionwith the wireless communication device, including interaction with agraphical user interface (GUI), interaction with an audio interface,some combination thereof, etc. For example, the wireless communicationdevice can present a GUI which includes interactive graphicalrepresentations of various remote devices with which the wirelesscommunication device can presently establish a point-to-point wirelessad hoc network link and exchange voice communication signals to enablevoice communication over the link. A graphical representation caninclude indications of one or more particular users associated with thedevice associated with the representation, indications of one or moreparticular users presently supported by the device, etc. The wirelesscommunication device can, in response to a user interaction with agraphical representation associated with a particular remote device,establish a point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link with the“selected” remote device and exchange voice communication signals withsaid device. As a result of enabling point-to-point voice communicationwith “selected” remote devices, which can be based at least in part uponidentities of particular users associated with the selected remotedevices, supported by the selected remote devices, etc., a usersupported by the wireless communication device can communicate withselected users via a point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link. As aresult, a user can be presented, via a user interface of the wirelesscommunication device, with indications of particular other users withwhich the user can engage in voice communication via a point-to-pointwireless ad hoc network link; the user can interact with the interfaceto indicate which users, devices, etc. with which the user desires tocommunicate. Such presentation and selection of particular remotedevices via a user interface can enable rapid establishment of voicecommunication with particular users, thereby augmenting communication.

In some embodiments, voice communication via a point-to-point ad hocnetwork link can be augmented via various noise filtering and processingsystems which can filter ambient noise out of audio signals received atan audio interface associated with a wireless communication device. Suchfiltering can result in voice communication signals which comprise audiosignals generated by the user, also referred to herein as “user noise”,and are at least partially filtered of ambient noise which is notgenerated by the user, resulting in audio signals in which theuser-generated audio signals are more easily distinguishable than viadirect hearing of the user-generated audio signals. Transmission of suchvoice communication signals via the point-to-point ad hoc network linkcan mitigate degradation of such voice communication signals, therebyenabling enhanced communication between users in a space with ambientnoise, relative to direct communication between the users whereuser-generated audio signals may be difficult to distinguish from theambient noise and may be intercepted by other individuals.

In some embodiments, voice communication via a point-to-point ad hocnetwork link can enable “conference call” voice communication sessionsbetween users supported by wireless communication devices linkedtogether via one or more point-to-point ad hoc network links. In someembodiments, such a linking of multiple devices can resemble a meshnetwork topology, where each wireless communication device is directlylinked to every other device via separate point-to-point ad hoc networklinks. In some embodiments, such a linking can resemble a star networktopology, where a set of wireless communication devices engaged in a“conference call” voice communication session include a primary deviceand secondary devices, where the secondary devices are linked to theprimary device via separate point-to-point ad hoc network links with theprimary device and are thus communicatively linked to each otherindirectly via the primary device.

In some embodiments, voice communication via one or more point-to-pointad hoc network links can enable “conference call” voice communicationsessions between users supported by wireless communication deviceslinked together via the point-to-point ad hoc network link and at leastone other device which is linked to at least one of the wirelesscommunication devices via another communication link. For example,referring to the above example where a set of wireless communicationdevices includes a primary device linked to one or more secondarywireless communication devices via separate point-to-point ad hocnetwork links, the primary device can be linked to another device via acellular network link. As a result, communication signals can beexchanged between the other device and the secondary devices via thecellular link between the other device and the primary device and thepoint-to-point ad hoc network links between the primary device and thesecondary devices. The other communication link, which can be referredto herein as a separate communication link, can be understood toencompass any known communication links, including cellular networkcommunication links, network links via a router, satellite communicationlinks, telephonic communication links, radio communication links, etc.

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of whichare illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detaileddescription, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will beapparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that some embodiments maybe practiced without these specific details. In other instances,well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks havenot been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspectsof the embodiments.

It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc.may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements shouldnot be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguishone element from another. For example, a first contact could be termed asecond contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be termed a firstcontact, without departing from the intended scope. The first contactand the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the samecontact.

The terminology used in the description herein is for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments only and is not intended to belimiting. As used in the description and the appended claims, thesingular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It willalso be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to andencompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms“includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used inthis specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

As used herein, the term “if” may be construed to mean “when” or “upon”or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,” dependingon the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [astated condition or event] is detected” may be construed to mean “upondetermining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [thestated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the statedcondition or event].” depending on the context.

Embodiments of electronic devices, user interfaces for such devices, andassociated processes for using such devices are described. In someembodiments, the device is a portable communications device, such as amobile telephone, that also contains other functions, such as PDA and/ormusic player functions. Exemplary embodiments of portable multifunctiondevices include, without limitation, the iPhone®, iPod Touch®, and iPad®devices from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Other portable electronicdevices, such as laptops or tablet computers with touch-sensitivesurfaces (e.g., touch screen displays and/or touch pads), may also beused. It should also be understood that, in some embodiments, the deviceis not a portable communications device, but is a desktop computer witha touch-sensitive surface (e.g., a touch screen display and/or a touchpad). In some embodiments, the device is a gaming computer withorientation sensors (e.g., orientation sensors in a gaming controller).In other embodiments, the device is not a portable communicationsdevice, but is a camera.

In the discussion that follows, an electronic device that includes adisplay and a touch-sensitive surface is described. It should beunderstood, however, that the electronic device may include one or moreother physical user-interface devices, such as a physical keyboard, amouse and/or a joystick. In some embodiments, the device includes one ormore user interfaces. In some embodiments, the one or more userinterfaces include a touch-sensitive surface, which can include atouchscreen interface. It should be understood that at least some of theuser interfaces included in the device can include interfaces other thantouchscreen interfaces, including button interfaces, switch interfaces,etc. In some embodiments, the device is restricted to including userinterfaces which are not touchscreen interfaces.

The device typically supports a variety of applications, such as one ormore of the following: a drawing application, a presentationapplication, a word processing application, a website creationapplication, a disk authoring application, a spreadsheet application, agaming application, a telephone application, a video conferencingapplication, an e-mail application, an instant messaging application, aworkout support application, a photo management application, a digitalcamera application, a digital video camera application, a web browsingapplication, a digital music player application, and/or a digital videoplayer application.

The various applications that may be executed on the device may use atleast one common physical user-interface device, such as thetouch-sensitive surface. One or more functions of the touch-sensitivesurface as well as corresponding information displayed on the device maybe adjusted and/or varied from one application to the next and/or withina respective application. In this way, a common physical architecture(such as the touch-sensitive surface) of the device may support thevariety of applications with user interfaces that are intuitive andtransparent to the user.

FIG. 1 illustrates users communicating via a point-to-point wireless adhoc network link between wireless communication devices supporting therespective users, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates a space 102 which comprises multiple individuals 104and multiple noise generation elements 105A-C which each generateambient noise 106A-C. Noise generation elements can include one or morevarious source of noise, including audio speakers associated with soundsystems, sounds generated by various individuals 104 in space 102, noisegenerated by one or more mechanical devices during operation, one ormore noisemaker devices, etc. As referred to herein, a space 102 caninclude a room of a structure, a limited volume of a larger enclosurevolume, a limited area of an exterior area in an ambient environment,etc.

In some embodiments, wireless communication devices supporting separateindividuals, herein referred to as “users” supported by the respectivedevices, enable voice communication between two or more users viapoint-to-point wireless ad hoc network links between two or more suchwireless communication devices. A wireless communication device canestablish a point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link with a selectedremote device supporting a particular user and exchange voicecommunication signals with the selected remote device to enable voicecommunication between the supported user and the particular supporteduser, based at least in part upon a user interaction with the wirelesscommunication device.

In the illustrated embodiment, individuals 110, 120, referred tointerchangeably herein as “users” 110, 120, are linked via apoint-to-point wireless ad hoc network link 130 between separatewireless communication devices 112, 122 which each support a separateone of the users 110, 120. The users 110, 120 can engage in voicecommunication via the link 130, based at least in part upon audiointerface devices 114, 124 coupled to the respective supporting wirelesscommunication devices 112, 122 via connections 116, 126. A given user110 can generate audio signals, which can include generating sounds viavocal action, including spoken words, which can be captured by the audiointerface device 114 and communicated to the wireless communicationdevice 112 supporting the user 110, where the device 112 can communicatethe audio signals generated by the user, as electronic signals (alsoreferred to herein as “voice communication signals”), to a remote device122 via link 130, where the device 122 can provide the voicecommunication signals as audio signals to user 120 via interface device124. As referred to herein, audio signals converted to electronicsignals, digital signals, etc. can be referred to as voice communicationsignals.

Voice communication between users 110, 120 via link 130 between devices112, 122 can enable communication of audio signals which are moredistinguishable from ambient noise 106 than direct communication ofaudio signals between users 110, 120 across the intervening physicalspace between them in space 102, where ambient noise 106A-C caninterfere with such direct communication and complicate distinction ofuser-generated audio signals from ambient noise. In other words, ambientnoise 106A-C can reduce a “signal to noise ratio” of user-generatedaudio signals relative to ambient noise when directly communicatedacross a physical space, thereby complicating distinguishability, by oneor more individuals, of the user-generated audio signals against theambient noise. Furthermore, because voice communication signalsexchanged between devices 112, 122 over link 130 may not be degraded,interfered with, etc. by ambient noise 106A-C, communications betweenusers 110, 120 can be at least partially insulated from disruption byvariations in ambient noises 106A-C generated by various ambient noisesources 105A-C over time.

In addition, where other individuals 104 are present in space 102,communication of audio signals between users 110, 120 via communicationof voice communication signals between devices 112, 122 over link 130can preclude interception of such audio signals by other individuals104, which can enable private, discreet communications between users110, 120 while permitting the users 110, 120 to have sufficient freedomof motion that other individuals 104 can be physically located betweenthe users 110, 120 without the communications between users 110, 120being audibly intercepted by other individuals 104. Furthermore, becausethe users 110, 120 can communicate via link 130 without requiring theusers to preclude other individuals 104 from being located between theusers 110, 120 or nearby the users 110, 120, visual appearance of aconversation between users 110, 120 to individuals 104 can be mitigated:while users 110, 120 may be separately visually perceived to be speakinginto a respective interface 114, 124, the fact that user 110 iscommunicating with user 120, and that user 120 is communicating withuser 110, may not be visually apparent as the users 110, 120 may not bevisually appearing to be interacting with each other. Furthermore, ascommunications via link 130 can be at least partially encrypted,security of conversations over link 130 can be enhanced, relative todirect communication across some physical portion of space 102. Also,because establishment of link 130 can be based at least in part upon oneor more of users 110, 120 separately interacting with one or more usersinterfaces of the respective supporting device 112, 122, link 130 can beestablished without requiring physical interactions between users 110,120, thereby further reducing external indications that users 110, 120are in communication relative to interactions between users 110, 120 viaother communication systems, including cellular communication systems,which may require users 110, 120 to physically verify their commonpresence in space 102, confirmation of respective contact information,etc. prior to establishing communications between themselves.

FIG. 2 illustrates wireless communication devices supporting separateusers and enabling voice communication between the separate users via apoint-to-point wireless ad hoc network link between the wirelesscommunication devices, according to some embodiments. The illustratedusers 210, 220, wireless communication devices 212, 222, point-to-pointwireless ad hoc network link 230 between same, some combination thereof,and the like can be included in any of the above embodiments describedherein.

Space 200 includes two separate users 210, 220 physically separated by aphysical distance 202 and at least one ambient noise source 204 which isgenerating ambient noise 206. As used herein, the physical distance bywhich separate users are separated can approximate the physical distanceby which separate devices supporting the separate users are separated.Physical distance can be referred to herein as “proximity”. “physicalproximity”, etc.

Each user 210, 220 is supported by a respective wireless communicationdevice 212, 222, which can be carried by the respective supported userof the device, stored in a support device, article of clothing, etc.associated with the respective support user, some combination thereof,etc. In some embodiments, a user being supported by a device includes auser which is associated with the device. Association with a device caninclude having access to at least some functions associated with thedevice, being associated with a user account which enables access to atleast some functions of the device, some combination thereof, etc. Insome embodiments, a user presently being supported by a device is one ofmultiple users associated with the device.

In some embodiments, a wireless communication device supporting a usercan select a particular remote device, of one or more particular remotedevices within a sufficiently close proximity that a wireless ad hocnetwork connection can be established with the one or more remotedevices. Such a “sufficiently close” proximity can be based on thecapabilities of a wireless communication transceiver, the proximitywhich is “sufficiently close” can vary based at least in part upon theexternal environment, including the presence of various structures,materials, etc. Multiple remote devices can be within sufficiently closeproximity, and a selection can be made of a particular remote devicefrom the multiple devices. In the illustrated embodiment, users 210, 220are within a certain physical proximity 202 from each other, where sucha proximity 202 is no more than the range at which one or more ofdevices 212, 222 can establish point-to-point wireless ad hoc networklinks with each other, the devices 212, 222 can be considered to be“sufficiently close” so as to be “in range” of each other.

In some embodiments, a particular remote device is selected as a“selected” remote device with which a wireless ad hoc network link willbe attempted to be established, such that voice communication signalscan be exchanged with the selected remote device over the wireless adhoc network link. For example, wireless communication device 212 can,based on a user interaction initiated by user 210 with one or more userinterfaces of device 212, select device 222 from one or more deviceswithin range of device 212. One or more portions of device 212 can, uponselecting device 222, establish a point-to-point wireless ad hoc networklink 230 with one or more portions of device 212. Voice communicationsignals can be exchanged between devices 212, 222 via link 230.

In some embodiments, communication between two or more users via apoint-to-point wireless ad hoc network link between devices supportingthe respective users can provide enhanced intelligibility of audiosignals (e.g., spoken words) generated by the various users andcommunicated between devices as voice communication signals, relative todirect communication of such audio signals between the various usersacross a physical distance, where ambient noise can detrimentally affecta signal to noise ratio of such directly-communicated audio signalsagainst ambient noise, thereby complicating distinguishability of suchaudio signals against the ambient noise. For example, in the illustratedembodiment, the physical proximity 202 between users 210, 220 can besufficiently small that direct communication 208 of audio signalsgenerated by one or more users to the other user can be attempted, butambient noise 206 generated by one or more ambient noise sources 204 caninterfere with such direct communication 208 by disrupting the directcommunication of audio signals generated by one or more users by theother users. Conversion of such audio signals generated by the usersinto voice communication signals, and exchanging such signals betweendevices supporting said users via link 230, can preclude disruption ofsaid audio signals by ambient noise 206 through direct communication.Audio signals can be converted between audio signals and voicecommunication signals at the wireless communication devices, somedevices coupled to the wireless communication devices, etc. In someembodiments, such conversion of audio signals into voice communicationsignals can include processing of the audio signals to at leastpartially remove ambient background noise from said audio signals. As aresult, audio signals provided to a user from a supported wirelesscommunication device, where the provided audio signals are convertedfrom voice communication signals received over the point-to-pointwireless ad hoc network link, can be filtered from ambient noise and cantherefore be more intelligible to the user than audio signals directlyreceived from another remote user across a physical distance.

In the illustrated embodiment, each wireless communication device 212,222 includes an audio interface module 217, a wireless transceivermodule 219, and a point-to-point voice communication module 218. Theaudio interface module 219 can receive audio signals from a user andprovide, to the user, audio signals generated from conversion of voicecommunication signals received over the link 230. In some embodiments,audio interface module 219 can process audio signals received from auser to at least partially remove, filter, etc. ambient noise out of theaudio signals, so that the resulting audio signals include audio signalsgenerated by the user (e.g., spoken words) and are at least partiallyfiltered of ambient noise. In some embodiments, the wirelesscommunication device including the module 219 includes one or more audiointerfaces, including speakers, microphones, etc. In some embodiments,the wireless communication device includes an interface, including aheadset jack, etc. which communicates signals between an externaldevice, including a headset device, and the audio interface module. Insome embodiments, audio signals are converted between audio andelectrical signals at the external device, such that the audio interfacemodule communicates voice communication signals with the externaldevice.

In some embodiments, one or more of devices 212, 222 includes one ormore user interfaces via which a user can interact with one or moreportions of the respective device. Such user interfaces can include oneor more display interfaces on which one or more graphical userinterfaces (GUIs) can be displayed to the user, one or more audiointerfaces, one or more physical interfaces including one or morebuttons, switches, etc.

Wireless transceiver module 219, which can comprise one or more wirelesstransceivers, can generate one or more wireless ad hoc networks, detectand communicate with various remote devices via one or more wireless adhoc networks, etc. In some embodiments, module 219 can communicateinformation, including voice communication signals, with one or moreremote devices via one or more links 230.

Point-to-point voice communication module 218 can select one or moreparticular remote devices as selected remote devices and command one ormore of establishing a wireless ad hoc network link with the selectedremote devices, communicating voice communication signals with theselected remote devices over said link, etc. In some embodiments, module218 selects one or more particular remote devices based on one or moreuser interactions, initiated by a user supported by the wirelesscommunication device comprising module 218, which result in one or moreof a generation of a user command to module 218 to select the one ormore particular remote devices, a generation of a user command toestablish a point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link with the one ormore particular remote devices, a generation of a user command to enablevoice communications with one or more users supported by the one or moreparticular remote devices via a point-to-point wireless ad hoc networklink, some combination thereof, etc. In some embodiments, module 218 isinteroperable with one or more of module s 217, 219 to implement suchselection, establishing, communicating, etc.

In some embodiments, one or more of modules 217-219 are implemented byone or more computer systems. In some embodiments, a given module isimplemented as an instance of hardware. As used herein, “computersystem” includes any of various computer systems or components thereof.One example of a computer system is a rack-mounted server. As usedherein, the term computer is not limited to just those integratedcircuits referred to in the art as a computer, but broadly refers to aprocessor, a server, a microcontroller, a microcomputer, a programmablelogic controller (PLC), an application specific integrated circuit, andother programmable circuits, and these terms are used interchangeablyherein. In the various embodiments, memory may include, but is notlimited to, a computer-readable medium, such as a random access memory(RAM). Alternatively, a compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM), amagneto-optical disk (MOD), and/or a digital versatile disc (DVD) mayalso be used. Also, additional input channels may include computerperipherals associated with an operator interface such as a mouse and akeyboard. Alternatively, other computer peripherals may also be usedthat may include, for example, a scanner. Furthermore, in the someembodiments, additional output channels may include an operatorinterface monitor and/or a printer. In some embodiments, at least someportion of a module is implemented as a set of program instructionsstored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. In someembodiments, such a set of program instructions can be referred to as an“application”.

In some embodiments, a wireless communication device is coupled to oneor more external devices which enable communication of audio signalsbetween a user supported by the wireless communication device and thewireless communication device itself. Such external devices can includeone or more audio interfaces which can communicate audio signals betweenthe user and a processing circuitry which convers between audio signalsand voice communication signals. Such processing circuitry can beassociated with an audio interface module of the wireless communicationdevice, the external device, some combination thereof, or the like.

In the illustrated embodiment, each user 210, 220 supported by arespective wireless communication device 212, 222 has a respectiveheadset device 214, 224 which is connected to an interface (e.g., aheadset device jack) of the respective wireless communication device212, 222 via a connection 216, 226. In some embodiments, a connection226 is a wireless network link via one or more network protocols,including a Bluetooth® link. Each headset device 214, 224 includes aspeaker device 215 and a microphone device 216. A headset device canboth receive audio signals from a user 210, 220, via the microphonedevice 216, and provide audio signals to the user, via the speakerdevice 215. A headset device, in some embodiments, can includeprocessing circuitry to convert audio signals received from the userinto voice communication signals, convert voice communication signalsreceived from a wireless communication device into audio signals, somecombination thereof, or the like. A headset device, in some embodiments,can include noise filtering circuitry which at least partially filtersambient noise 206 out of audio signals received at the microphone device216, thereby distinguishing audio signals generated by the supporteduser from ambient noise.

In some embodiments, voice communication between separate users via apoint-to-point wireless ad hoc network link between separate devices,each supporting a separate one of the separate users, enablescommunication between the users with minimally perceptible discontinuitybetween direct observation of user body gestures and communication ofcorresponding user-generated audio signals. For example, where user 220generates audio signals which are converted by one or more of device222, 224 to voice communication signals, communicated to device 212 vialink 230, and provided to user 210 as audio signals via speaker device215, user 220 may execute various body gestures which correspond togeneration of the audio signals. Such gestures can include mouthmovements, eye movements, facial muscle movements, limb movements, etc.As noted above, the latency associated with link 230 can be sufficientlylow (e.g., <20 milliseconds) that the audio signal provided to user 210via speaker device 215 is provided at approximately the same time asuser 220 is observed by user 210 to execute the body gesturescorresponding to the provided audio signal, such that a timediscontinuity between the user 210 observing the execution of the bodygestures and the user 210 receiving the corresponding audio signals viaspeaker 215 is imperceptible by user 210. In addition, the audio signalprovided to user 210 via speaker device 215 is so provided atapproximately the same time as audio signals generated by the user 220are directly received 208 by user 210, such that a time discontinuitybetween the user 210 receiving the directly-communicated audio signals208 and the user 210 receiving the audio signals communicated over link230 via speaker 215 is imperceptible by user 210.

FIG. 3 illustrates wireless communication devices 310, 320 which eachinclude one or more wireless communication headset devices andcommunicate via a point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link betweenseparate wireless communication headset devices. One or more of devicescan be included in any of the above embodiments of wirelesscommunication devices described herein.

In some embodiments, a wireless communication device configured toenable voice communication between a supported user and one or moreother users of one or more other remote devices, via a point-to-pointwireless ad hoc network connection between the wireless communicationdevice and the one or more other remote devices, includes one or morewireless headset devices. Such one or more wireless headset devices caninclude one or more modules, user interfaces, etc. For example, in theillustrated embodiment, each wireless communication device 310, 320 is awireless headset device which includes a respective microphone device315, speaker devices 314A-B, structure 313, user interface button 316,and one or more modules 317, 318, 319. Such modules, which can includean audio interface module 317, wireless transceiver module 319, andvoice communication module 318 can be similar to modules 217-219illustrated and described above with reference to FIG. 2. A headsetdevice can include various combinations of the above modules,interfaces, structures, etc. For example, some wireless headset devicesinclude a single speaker device 314A and lack at least structure 313 andspeaker device 314B.

In some embodiments, a wireless headset device is configured to exchangevoice communication signals with a selected remote device via apoint-to-point wireless ad hoc network link, based at least in part upona user interaction with the wireless headset device. Such userinteraction can include interaction with one or more various userinterfaces of the headset device which can include generation of varioususer commands. For example, device 310 includes a button interface 316which, when pressed by a user, can result in a user command totransceiver module 319 to search for one or more remote devices 320which are “in range” of device 310 and a user command to module 318 tointeract with the audio interface module 317 to provide to a user, viaone or more of speaker devices 314A-B, audio signals indicating whetherone or more remote devices are in range of device 310, and if so,indicate one or more particular remote devices. Module 318 can, based atleast in part upon user interaction with one or more of interface 316,microphone device 315, etc., select a particular detected remote deviceand establish a point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link with theselected remote device, and initiate an exchange of voice communicationsignals with said selected remote device via said link. Suchinteractions can include, for example, a user interacting with button316 subsequently to an indication of a particular remote device beingprovided via one or more of devices 314A-B, a user providing an audiocommand via microphone device 315 subsequently to an indication of aparticular remote device being provided via one or more of devices314A-B, some combination thereof, etc.

In some embodiments, audio indications of remote devices are providedvia a limited selection of audio interfaces (e.g., speaker device 314Aand not speaker device 314B) and can indicate a remote device based onuser information associated with one or more users supported by theremote device, user information associated with one or more usersassociated with the remote device, some combination thereof, etc. Forexample, an audio signal indicating a particular remote device presentlysupporting a particular user can include an indication of the user nameof the particular user.

FIG. 4A-B illustrate a set of wireless communication headset deviceswhich can be switched between collectively providing a stereo audioexperience for a single supported user and individually supportingseparate supported users and exchanging voice communication signals viaa wireless ad hoc network link, according to some embodiments. One ormore of devices can be included in any of the above embodiments ofwireless communication devices described herein.

In some embodiments, a wireless communication device which is configuredto enable voice communication between a supported user and at least oneremote user via a point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link includes apair of headset devices, where the pair of headset devices can bothexchange voice communication signals with each other via a wireless adhoc network link to collectively provide a stereo audio experience for asingle supported user. The pair of headset devices can switch fromcollectively providing the stereo audio experience for the single userto individually supporting a separate supported user and exchangingvoice communication signals between the separate supported users via thewireless ad hoc network link, based at least in part upon userinteraction with one or more user interfaces included in one or more ofthe pair of headset devices.

FIG. 4A illustrates a pair 410 of headset devices 411, 421, where thedevices can collectively provide audio signals to a single user 401, viarespective speaker devices 414, 424 of the respective devices, whichresults in a stereo audio experience for the user 401. For example, eachseparate device 411, 421 can be mounted proximate to a separate ear ofuser 401.

Devices 411, 421 can provide audio signals, via respective speakerdevices 414, 424, to user 401 based on signals received at one or moreof the devices from an external source. The devices 411, 421 cancommunicate signals between each other via a wireless network link 417,which can include a wireless ad hoc network link between the separatedevices 411, 421 of the pair 410. For example, as shown, device 421 canreceive signals from a separate device 430 via a communication pathway432, which can include a wireless network link, and at least a portionof the signals received at device 421 via pathway 432 can becommunicated from device 421 to device 411 via link 417. The devices411, 421 can collectively provide audio signals to the user 401, basedon the signals received at device 421 via pathway 432, to provide astereo audio experience to the user 401. As an example, device 430 cantransmit electrical signals associated with an audio stream to device411, 421 via one or more pathways 432, where the signals include dataassociated with a “right” audio channel and data associated with a“left” audio channel for a stereo audio experience. Device 421 cantransmit the data associated with the “left” audio channel to device 411via link 417, and devices 411, 421 can each convert a respective one ofthe left or right channels to audio signals and provide said convertedaudio signals to the user 401 via respective speaker devices 414, 424.

One or more of the separate devices 411, 421 can include one or moreuser interfaces in addition to one or more audio interfaces. Forexample, both devices 411, 421 include a respective microphone device415, 425 and a button interface 416, 426.

In some embodiments, a pair of wireless headset devices are configuredto be switched from collectively providing a stereo experience to asingle user to supporting point-to-point voice communications betweenseparate users via a point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link betweenthe separate wireless headset devices. FIG. 4B illustrates the devices411, 421 comprised in pair 410 of FIG. 4A, where the devices 411, 421are switched from collectively supporting a single user 401 to eachsupporting a separate user 401, 402 and supporting voice communicationsbetween the separate users 401, 402 via one or more wireless ad hocnetwork links 440 between the separate devices 411, 421. The link 440illustrated in FIG. 4B can include the link 417 illustrated in FIG. 4A;in some embodiments the link 440 is separate from link 417; for examplelink 417 can be a Bluetooth® link and link 440 can be a Wi-Fi Direct®link.

In some embodiments, a pair of headset devices 411, 421 in a pair 410can be switched between collectively supporting audio signal provisionto a single user (e.g., collectively providing a stereo experience) tosupporting voice communication between separate users via apoint-to-point wireless ad hoc network link based on user interactionwith one or more user interfaces of one or more of the devices 411, 421.For example, one or more of the separate devices 411, 421, in someembodiments, can switch the devices between stereo support and voicecommunication support based on user interaction with one or more of thebutton interfaces 416, 426 of one or more of the devices. Such switchingcan include one or more of the devices increasing an amount of powerprovided to a wireless transceiver of the respective device, switchingfrom stereo functionality to voice communication functionality, etc.

In some embodiments, such switching implemented in a device 411, 421 caninclude inhibiting communications with other devices which are separatefrom the other device 411, 421 of the pair. For example, while device421 of pair 410 can communicate with external device 430 via pathway 432in FIG. 4A, the devices 411, 421 may each deactivate communication withany external devices 430 other than the other one of the devices 411,421 when the devices are switched to support voice communication betweenseparate users. Such deactivation can augment power management,particularly if the switching involves boosting power consumption bywireless transceivers of the devices 411, 421. In some embodiments,devices 411, 421 communicate with each other via link 417, and canswitch between communicating via link 417 and link 421, independently ofcommunication by either of devices 411, 421 with any external devicesother than devices 411, 421, including device 430.

In some embodiments, a pair of headset devices 411, 421 in a pair 410can be switched between collectively supporting audio signal provisionto a single user (e.g., collectively providing a stereo experience) tosupporting voice communication between separate users via apoint-to-point wireless ad hoc network link independently of externaldevices which are separate from the devices 411, 421. For example, inthe illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4A-B, while one or more of devices411, 421 may interact with external device 430 while devices 411, 421collectively provide a stereo experience to user 401, the devices can beswitched to each support voice communication between separate users viaa point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link independently of any userinteraction with device 430, any communication signals transmitted fromdevice 430 to either of devices 411, 421, etc. Such switching can bebased at least in part upon user interaction with one or more userinterfaces included in one or more of the devices 411, 421.

For example, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, each device 411,421 includes a respective user interface 416, 426, which can include oneor more of a switch, button, etc. which is associated with switching therespective device between collectively supporting audio signal provisionto a single user (e.g., collectively providing a stereo experience) tosupporting voice communication between separate uses via apoint-to-point wireless ad hoc network link. Where a user interacts witha user interface on one of the devices, the respective device can switchbetween collectively supporting audio signal provision to a single user(e.g., collectively providing a stereo experience) to supporting voicecommunication between an individual user and another user supported bythe other one of the devices via a point-to-point wireless ad hocnetwork link. The respective device can further, based on the userinteraction with the user interface on the device, generate a commandsignal to the other one of the devices to also switch betweencollectively supporting audio signal provision to a single user (e.g.,collectively providing a stereo experience) to supporting voicecommunication between separate users via a point-to-point wireless adhoc network link, such that both devices are switched similarly.

One or more of collectively supporting audio signal provision to asingle user or supporting voice communication between separate users viaa point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link can be a default state ofone or more of the devices. For example, both devices 411, 421 can be ina default state, shown in FIG. 4A, of collectively supporting audiosignal provision to a single user, and a user can interact with userinterface 416 on device 411 where a wireless communication deviceincluded in device 411 responds to the user interaction with interface416 by switching the respective device between collectively operatingwith devices 421 to support audio signal provision to a single user tosupporting voice communication between separate users via communicationwith device 421. Device 411 can further respond to the user interactionwith interface 416 by generating a command signal which can betransmitted from device 411 to device 421 via link 417, where device 411can switch between collectively operating with device 411 to supportaudio signal provision to a single user to supporting voicecommunication between separate users via communication with device 411.Such switching can include switching between providing a particular setof audio signals to the user based on a particular set of audio channels(e.g., left and right stereo signals) to providing another set of audiosignals based on another set of audio channels (e.g., a non-stereo audiosignal based on both left and right channels). Such switching can bereversible.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram schematic of a wireless communicationdevice configured to enable voice communication between a supported userand at least one remote user via a point-to-point wireless ad hocnetwork link, according to some embodiments. The wireless communicationdevice 500 illustrated in FIG. 5 can be included in any of theembodiments illustrated herein.

Wireless communication device 500, also referred to herein as “device500”, includes various modules 502-520. At least some of such modulescan be interoperable to establish a point-to-point wireless ad hocnetwork link with a selected remote device, of the one or more remotedevices, and communicate voice communication signals with the selectedremote device via the link.

In some embodiments, device 500 includes an audio communicationinterface module 502 which communicates voice communication signalsbetween an audio interface of the device and a wireless communicationtransceiver of the device 500. Module 502 can, in some embodiments,receive audio signals from an audio interface of the device and provideaudio signals to an audio interface of the device. Module 502 can, insome embodiments, communicate signals with an external device, includinga headset device, speaker device, microphone device, etc. via aninterface of device 500, where such signals can include one or more ofaudio signals, electrical signals, some combination thereof, etc. Insome embodiments, module 502 processes received signals to filterambient sounds from said signals.

In some embodiments, device 500 includes a wireless communicationtransceiver 520 which can establish one or more point-to-point wirelessad hoc network links with one or more remote devices and communicatesignals with same via the established links. Wireless transceiver 520can include RF circuitry and can detect various remote devicesconfigured to communicate via a wireless network via a wireless ad hocnetwork. In some embodiments, transceiver 520 can generate one or morewireless ad hoc networks, including one or more mobile ad hoc networks(MANETs), according to one or more various protocols, includingBluetooth®, Wi-Fi Direct®, etc.

In some embodiments, device 500 includes an interface module 504 whichcan support one or more user interfaces of the device 500. Such one ormore user interfaces can include one or more display interfaces, one ormore audio interfaces, one or more interfaces with one or more externaldevices which include one or more interfaces (e.g., a headset jackinterface), some combination thereof, etc. It will be understood thatuser interfaces, as described herein, encompass any known connectioninterfaces, hardware interfaces, etc., including, without limitation,analog connection interfaces, phone connector interfaces, digitalconnection interfaces, USB interfaces, mini-USB interfaces, micro-USBinterfaces, jack interfaces, I.E.E.E. 1394 interfaces, “AppleLightning”® interfaces, “Thunderbolt”® interfaces, etc. Such support caninclude receiving one or more indications of one or more userinteractions with one or more user interfaces of the device 500 andgenerating one or more user commands, based at least in part upon theone or more user interactions. Based on a particular user interactionwith a user interface of the device, module 504 can generate a usercommand which can be executed by one or more modules of device 500. Insome embodiments, such support can include providing, to a supporteduser via one or more user interfaces of device 500, an identification ofat least some of the plurality of remote devices with whichpoint-to-point wireless ad hoc voice communication can be established.Module 504 can, based at least in part upon module 520 detecting andidentifying various particular remote devices which are “in range” ofdevice 500, generate one or more indications of the various particularremote devices and present said indications to a supported user via oneor more user interfaces of the device 500.

Where a user interface includes a display interface, module 504 cangenerate a graphical user interface (GUI) which presents, to a supporteduser via the display interface, one or more indications which comprisegraphical representations of the various remote devices which aredetermined by module 520 to be “in range” of device 500. The GUI caninclude graphical representations positioned at various positions,relative to a graphical representation of device 500, relative to aphysical range of wireless communication of device 500 via a wireless adhoc network generated by transceiver 520, some combination thereof, etc.The graphical representations can include representations of userssupported with the remote devices, associated with the remote devices,etc. The representations can be generated based on user informationassociated with said users received at transceiver 520, including usernames associated with said users, images associated with said users,user information associated with said users, some combination thereof,etc. As a result, graphical representations of a remote device caninclude a graphical representation of a user supported by the remotedevice, associated with the remote device, some combination thereof,etc. One or more of the graphical representations can be associated withone or more user commands, so that module 504 can generate one or moreuser commands based at least in part upon determining that a userinteraction has occurred with reference to a particular one or moregraphical representations displayed via a GUI. Module 504 can presentvarious indications of present wireless ad hoc network links betweendevice 500 and one or more remote devices, and can present indicationsthat a wireless ad hoc link is in the process of establishment, isterminated, etc.

In some embodiments, where a link request message requestingestablishment of a wireless ad hoc network link with a remote device isreceived at device 500 from the remote device, module 504 can generate alink request message and present the message to the supported user via aGUI, where the message includes interactive elements which indicate useracceptance, denial, ignorance, etc. with regard to the request. Themodule 504 can generate one or more user commands to accept a linkrequest, deny same, ignore same, etc. based on user interaction with oneor more of the particular interactive elements included in a displayedlink request message.

Where a user interface includes an audio interface, module 504 cangenerate audio signals which present, to a supported user via the audiointerface, audio indications of the various remote devices which aredetermined by module 520 to be “in range” of device 500. The audioindications can include audio signals identifying various userssupported with the remote devices, associated with the remote devices,etc. The identifications can include user information associated withsaid users received at transceiver 520, including user names associatedwith said users, user information associated with said users, somecombination thereof, etc. As a result, an audio indication of a remotedevice can include an audio indication of a user supported by the remotedevice, associated with the remote device, some combination thereof,etc. In some embodiments, module 504 can generate one or more usercommands based at least in part upon determining that a user interactionhas occurred with reference to a particular one or more audioindications. For example, Module 504 can determine, based on receivingone or more particular audio signals from a user via one or more audiointerfaces within a certain time period of presenting an audioindication of a particular remote device, based on receiving one or moreparticular audio signals determined to identify a particular remotedevice, etc., that a user interaction has identified the particularremote device. Module 504 can present one or more audio indications ofan establishment of a wireless ad hoc network links between device 500and one or more remote devices, and can present audio indications that awireless ad hoc link is in the process of establishment, is terminated,etc.

In some embodiments, where a link request message requestingestablishment of a wireless ad hoc network link with a remote device isreceived at device 500 from the remote device, module 504 can generate alink request message and present the message to the supported user via aGUI, where the message includes interactive elements which indicate useracceptance, denial, ignorance, etc. with regard to the request. Themodule 504 can generate one or more user commands to accept a linkrequest, deny same, ignore same, etc. based on user interaction with oneor more of the particular interactive elements included in a displayedlink request message.

In some embodiments, device 500 includes a point-to-point voicecommunication module 510 which can establish a point-to-point wirelessad hoc network link with a selected remote device, of the one or moreremote devices, and communicate voice communication signals with theselected remote device via the link, based at least in part upon a userinteraction with the device which identifies a particular remote deviceas the selected remote device and commands establishing point-to-pointwireless ad hoc voice communication with the selected remote device.Module 510 can be interoperable with the wireless communicationtransceiver and audio communication interface to implement the above.

In some embodiments, module 510 includes one or more modules 512-516.Module 510 can include a detection module 512 which, based at least inpart upon the wireless transceiver 520, identify one or more remotedevices which are “in range” of device 500. Such identification caninclude identification of one or more users associated with a givenremote device, identification of one or more users presently supportedby a given remote device, some combination thereof, or the like.Information indicating such identified remote devices, includinginformation indicating the various associated users, supported users,etc., can be communicated to interface module 504, where suchinformation can be used to generate indications presented to a usersupported by device 500 via one or more user interfaces of the device500.

In some embodiments, module 510 includes a link establishment module 514which can identify one or more particular remote devices which are “inrange” of device 500 as selected remote devices with which a wireless adhoc network link is to be attempted to be established. Suchidentification can be based at least in part upon a user interactionwith one or more user interfaces of the device 500, where the userinteraction is determined to include a user-initiated identification ofthe one or more particular remote devices. Module 514 can, based atleast in part upon selection of a particular remote device, initiateestablishing of the wireless ad hoc network link with the selectedremote device via transceiver 520. Such initiation can includegenerating a link request message which can be transmitted bytransceiver 520 to the selected remote device, where the link requestmessage can include a command to the remote device to establish thelink. In some embodiments, the link request message can include acommand to the remote device to request a supported user to accept,decline, ignore, etc. the link request.

In some embodiments, module 510 includes a voice communication module516 which manages exchanges of voice communication signals betweendevice 500 and a remote device via a point-to-point wireless ad hocnetwork link. Such managing can include receiving audio signals frominterface 502, converting the signals to voice communication signals,commanding transceiver 520 to transmit said converted signals across alink, receiving voice communication signals from a remote device viatransceiver, processing said received signals, providing said processingsignals to interface 502 such that the processed signals are provided toa supported user via one or more audio interfaces, etc. Processingsignals can include converting audio signals to voice communicationsignals, converting voice communication signals to audio signals,filtering ambient noise out of signals, some combination thereof, etc.In some embodiments, voice communication module 516 can terminate voicecommunication exchanges, command transceiver 520 to terminate anestablished link, etc. based at least in part upon a receipt of atermination command, where the termination command can be received atmodule 516 based at least in part upon user interaction with one or moreuser interfaces of device 500.

FIG. 6A-E illustrate graphical user interfaces (GUIs), displayed on oneor more user interfaces of one or more devices, which enableuser-imitated establishment of voice communication, via a wireless adhoc network link, with one or more selected devices, according to someembodiments. The GUIs illustrated in FIG. 6A-E can be included in anydisplay interfaces of any of the wireless communication devicesdescribed herein.

FIG. 6A illustrates a wireless communication device 600 which includes adisplay user interface 602, hereinafter referred to as a displayinterface 602. A GUI 610 displayed in a display user interface 602 caninclude a general device GUI which includes various graphicalrepresentations of various elements of the device 600, including variousapplications, programs of instruction, etc. executable by device 600. Inthe illustrated embodiment, GUI 610 presents a graphical representation611 of a point-to-point voice communication application. The graphicalrepresentation, which can also be referred to as an “icon” can includean interactive representation, where a user supported by device 600 caninteract with the icon 611 to provide a command to at least some portionof device 600 to initialize the point-to-point voice communicationapplication. Such interaction can include interaction with displayinterface 602, interaction with one or more other user interfaces ofdevice 600, some combination thereof, etc. For example, where displayinterface 602 includes a touchscreen display, a user can touch 692 aportion of display 602 in which icon 611 is displayed to indicate acommand to initialize the point-to-point voice communicationapplication. Such initialization, which can be implemented by one ormore portions of the device 600, can include searching for one or moreremote devices which are “in range” of device 600.

FIG. 6B illustrates a GUI 620 associated with the point-to-point voicecommunication application, which can be displayed in the displayinterface 602 of device 600 based on user interaction with the icon 611illustrated in FIG. 6A. GUI 620 can be displayed on interface 602 basedon initiation of a point-to-point voice communication application.

In some embodiments, GUI 620 can include one or more graphicalrepresentations 622 of the range, around a graphical representation 621of device 600 and within a field 629 of GUI 620, of point-to-pointwireless ad hoc network communication by device 600. Such range caninclude a physical range, which can vary based on one or more variousenvironmental conditions. In some embodiments, the representations 622can include an outer range 625, bounded by outer boundary 623, withinwhich device 600 can detect a remote device via a wireless network andis precluded from engaging in voice communication via a point-to-pointwireless ad hoc network link. In some embodiments, the representationscan include an inner range 626, bounded by inner boundary 624, withinwhich device 600 can engage in voice communication via a point-to-pointwireless ad hoc network link.

In some embodiments, the GUI 620 includes one or more graphicalrepresentations of one or more wireless communication devices, includingone or more of a graphical representation of device 600, a graphicalrepresentation of one or more remote devices, etc. Such graphicalrepresentations can include representations of one or more usersassociated with said devices, one or more users presently supported bysaid devices, some combination thereof, etc. In the illustratedembodiment, the representation 621 of device 600, also referred toherein as “icon 621”, can be centered on the representations 622 ofcommunication ranges and can include a representation of the usersupported by device 600.

In some embodiments, a representation of a user can include one or moreof an image associated with the user, a text label associated with theuser, some combination thereof, etc. A text label associated with a usercan include at least some user information associated with the user,including a user name. As shown, icons 621, 631, 632 of various wirelesscommunication devices include an identification of a user supported bythe respective device. Each icon 621, 631, 632 can include a separateimage associated with the respective identified user. In someembodiments, where at least some user information associated with aremote device is absent, a graphical representation of the device canreflect such absence. For example, icon 633 indicates that at least someuser information associated with the remote device represented by icon633 is absent and therefore unknown.

In some embodiments, GUI 620 presents graphical representations ofvarious remote devices as various positions within the GUI to indicateone or more of proximity of the represented remote devices to device600, whether point-to-point ad hoc voice communications can beestablished with said remote devices at the present proximity fromdevice 600, some combination thereof, etc. In the illustratedembodiment, for example, icon 631 is located within the “inner range”625, indicating the voice communications can be established with theremote device associated with icon 631. In addition, icons 632, 633 arelocated within the “outer range” 625, which can indicate that thedevices associated with icons 632, 633 are not sufficiently close inphysical proximity to device 600 for device 600 to establish voicecommunications with users supported by one or more of said devices via apoint-to-point wireless ad hoc network link. In some embodiments, anygraphical representation 631, 632, 633 located within the outer boundary623 is indicated to be “in range” of device 600 such that voicecommunication can be established between device 600 and the associatedremote device via a wireless ad hoc network link.

In some embodiments, a graphical representation of a remote device ispresented in GUI 620 based at least in part upon a determination, by oneor more portions of device 600, regarding whether the remote deviceincludes a point-to-point voice communication application. Where aremote device is “in range” of device 600 and lacks the application, arepresentation of the remote device may be absent from GUI 620.

In some embodiments, a position of a graphical representation in GUI 620indicates a position of the associated remote device relative to areference orientation of device 600. For example, in the illustratedembodiment, the icon 631 is positioned below and to the right of theicon 621 of the device 600, which can indicate that the remote deviceassociated with icon 631 is behind and to the right of the referenceorientation of device 600. A reference orientation can include, forexample, an orientation towards geographic North, an orientation towardsmagnetic North, an orientation towards a direction of motion of device600, an orientation towards a direction in which one or more externalsides of device 600 is presently facing, some combination thereof, etc.In some embodiments, the position of an icon within a range isindependent of the relative position of the associated device relativeto a reference orientation of device 600.

In some embodiments, one or more of the icons 631, 632, 633 of remotedevices in GUI 620 are interactive, such that a user can interact withone or more such icons to provide a command to device 600 to establishvoice communication with a user supported by the one or more remotedevices represented by said icons via one or more point-to-pointwireless ad hoc network links. For example, in the illustratedembodiment of FIG. 6B, a user can touch 692 a portion of display 602 inwhich a particular icon 631 is displayed to indicate a command toattempt point-to-point voice communication application with a particularremote device associated with the icon 631. FIG. 6C illustrates anembodiment of GUI 620 where, based on a user interaction with GUI 620,the remote device associated with icon 631 is determined to be selectedand a confirmation message is displayed to receive confirmation of theselection via one or more user interactions. Selection of the deviceassociated with icon 631 can be determined based at least in part upon auser interaction with icon 631. For example, where display 602 comprisesa touchscreen, a user interaction with icon 631 can include touching 692a portion of display 602 in which icon 631 is displayed. A userinteraction with icon 631 can indicate a selection of a particulardevice associated with the icon 631.

As shown, in response to the user interaction with presentation 631, theicon 631 can be altered to indicate a selection of the device associatedwith icon 631 in response to the interaction, and a confirmation message641 with regard to the selection can be displayed. The confirmationmessage 641 can include a query 642, to the supported user, requestingconfirmation that the user desires establishment of voice communicationwith the remote device associated with icon 631. Such a query 642 canrefer to the remote device with regards to one or more users associatedwith the remote device, presently supported by the remote device, etc.For example, where icon 631 includes a presentation of a particular usersupported by the associated device, query 642 can include a request forconfirmation that the supported user desire establishment of voicecommunication with the particular user supported by the associateddevice.

Confirmation message 641 can include one or more various interactiveelements 643A-B with which a supported user of device 600 can interactto indicate confirmation or denial of a desire to establish voicecommunications with the associated device of icon 631.

In some embodiments, in response to selection of a particular remotedevice, one or more portions of a wireless communication devicegenerates a link request signal which can be transmitted to theparticular remote device via one or more communication networks,including a wireless ad hoc network. The link request signal, uponreceipt at the remote device via one or more communication interfaces ofsame, can be processed by the remote device and cause the remote deviceto present a link request message to a supported user of the remotedevice. In some embodiments, where a remote device is “in range” ofdevice 600 and lacks a point-to-point voice communication application, arepresentation of the remote device may be presented in GUI 620. Such arepresentation can include an indication that the associated remotedevice lacks the application, a user interaction with the representationof such a remote device can result in generation of a command togenerate an invitation message which is transmitted to the remotedevice, where the invitation message can include an invitation to storea copy of the application at the remote device. The invitation messagecan include a copy of the application, a network link to a networklocation from which the application can be downloaded, some combinationthereof, etc.

FIG. 6D illustrates a wireless communication device 650 which isremotely located from device 600 illustrated in FIG. 6A-C. Such a device650 can be referred to herein as a “remote device 650” and can be thedevice associated with icon 631 illustrated above in FIG. 6B-C. Theillustrated remote device 650 includes a display interface 652 anddisplays a GUI 654 associated with a point-to-point voice communicationapplication. The GUI 654 can be displayed on interface 652 based atleast in part upon receipt, at the device 650 of a link request signalfrom device 600 that is generated at device 600 based at least in partupon selection of device 652, where the selection can be based at leastin part upon a user interaction with the icon 631 of the remote device650 in the GUI 620 illustrated in FIG. 68-C. The link request signal caninclude an identification of one or more elements associated with device600 and can include a command to establish a wireless ad hoc networklink with device 600. In some embodiments, the link request signals caninclude a command to device 650 to request confirmation of the link froma user supported by device 650.

In some embodiments, based on receipt of a link request signal, a remotedevice generates a link request message to a supported user In someembodiments, the link request message identifies the device whichgenerated the link request signal and request user confirmation ofwhether to accept the request to establish a wireless ad hoc networklink with the device which generated the signal. Such a message can beincluded in a GUI which includes one or more interactive elements withwhich a supported user can interact to indicate one or more usercommands responding to the request.

In the illustrated embodiment, GUI 654 includes a query message 655identifying device 600 can requesting a supported user to indicatewhether to establish point-to-point voice communication with device 600via a wireless ad hoc network link. In some embodiments, a device isidentified based at least in part upon one or more users associated withthe device, one or more users presently supported by the device, somecombination thereof, etc. In the illustrated embodiment, for example,message 655 identifies device 600 by the user name of a user supportedby device 600.

In some embodiments, GUI 654 is displayed on interface 652 in responseto receipt of the link request signal at device 652 and withoutprompting by a supported user of device 652. In other words, the GUI 654can be displayed automatically in response to receipt of the linkrequest signal. Such a response to a link request signal can includeinitializing a point-to-point voice communication application on device650 without prompting from a user supported by device 650.

As shown, GUI 654 includes interactive elements (“icons”) 656A-B withwhich a supported user of device 650 can interact to indicate acceptance(656A) or denial (656B) of the link request signal. Based on a userinteraction with an element indicating acceptance (656A), device 650 cangenerate an acceptance signal which can be transmitted to device 600.Based on a user interaction with an element indicating denial (656B),device 650 can generate a denial signal which can be transmitted todevice 600. For example, in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 6D, auser supported by the remote device 650 can touch 694 a portion ofdisplay 652 in which a particular icon 656A is displayed to indicate acommand to accept point-to-point voice communication application withthe particular remote device 600 from which the link request signal wasreceived.

Upon receipt of a response signal from the remote device 650, device 600can modify the GUI 620 displayed on interface 602 based on whether thelink request is accepted, denied, ignored, etc. FIG. 6E illustrates aGUI 620 of device 600 where, in response to the link request signalgenerated at device 600 and transmitted to remote device 650, a responsesignal indicating acceptance of the request is received at device 600from remote device 650. In response to receiving the acceptance, device600 establishes one or more wireless ad hoc network links with theremote device 650 and initiates an exchange of voice communicationsignals with remote device 650 over the established one or more links.

In some embodiments, device 600 can present to the supported user ofdevice 600, via GUI 620, one or more various indications of theestablished link with the remote device 650, one or me indications thatvoice communications are presently being exchanged with the remotedevice via the established one or more links, some combination thereof,etc. In the illustrated embodiment, GUI 620 includes highlighting ofboth the icon 621 of device 600 and the icon 631 of remote device 650with which the wireless ad hoc network link is established. In addition,GUI 620 includes a representation 671 of the wireless ad hoc networklink between device 600 and remote device 650. Such representation 671can persist on GUI 620 for the duration of the presence of theestablished link. GUI 620 can include a message 672 which includes anindication 673 that voice communication (i.e., exchange of voicecommunication signals) between device 600 and remote device 650 ispresently ongoing. In the illustrated embodiment, the message 672identifies remote device 650 by identifying a user presently supportedby the device 650.

In some embodiments, based at least in part upon point-to-point voicecommunications between established between a wireless communicationdevice and a remote device via a wireless ad hoc network link, thewireless communication device can present, via a user interface, aninterface element where, based on user interaction with the element, thedevice can terminate the wireless ad hoc network link. In theillustrated embodiment, for example, message 672 includes an interactiveelement (also referred to herein as an “icon”) 674 with which a user caninteract to provide a user command to terminate the established wirelessad hoc network link between device 600 and remote device 650.

FIG. 6F illustrates wireless communication devices supporting separateusers and enabling voice communication between the separate users and aremote device, via point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link between aprimary wireless communication device and secondary wirelesscommunication devices and a separate communication link between theprimary wireless communication device and the remote device, accordingto some embodiments. The wireless communication devices illustrated inFIG. 6F can include any of the above embodiments of wirelesscommunication devices.

In some embodiments, one or more wireless communication devices at leastpartially supports voice communication between a set of wirelesscommunication devices via one or more point to point ad hoc networklinks. Such a device, which can be referred to as a “primary” device,can establish point-to-point ad hoc network links with multiple separateother wireless communication devices, referred to herein as “secondary”devices, and enable voice communication between at least some of theprimary and secondary devices via the links between the primary andsecondary devices. As a result, separate secondary devices, eachseparately linked directly to the primary device via separatepoint-to-point ad hoc network links, can exchange voice communicationsignals with each other via the primary device. Such secondary devicescan be referred to as being indirectly linked.

As shown in FIG. 6F, for example, wireless communication device 682 islinked to multiple separate wireless communication devices 684A-D ingeographic region 680 via separate point-to-point ad hoc network links683 between the device 682 and the separate devices 684A-D. As a result,device 682 is a primary device and devices 684A-D are secondary devices,where communication signal exchanges between secondary devices 684A-Dare enabled via primary device 682. In some embodiments, primary device682 manages signal exchanges between secondary devices 684A-E, such thatat least some voice communication signals exchanges are at leastpartially inhibited between devices 684. For example, device 682 canmanage communication signal exchanges involving device 684A, via therespective link 683 between device 682 and device 684A, so that device684 receives voice communication signals transmitted from one or more ofdevices 682, 684-D and is inhibited from transmitting voicecommunication signals to at least devices 684B-D. Device 682 canselectively manage communication signal exchanges, such that device 682allows voice communication signals from device 684A to be received atdevice 684B and not devices 684C-D. Such management can include device682 transmitting command signals to device 684A to inhibit voicecommunication signal transmission from device 684A to device 682 vialink 683, device 682 selectively routing signals received from device684A to one or more selected other devices 684B-D, etc.

In some embodiments, device 682 manages the communication session amongat least some of devices 682, 684. For example, device 682 can initiatethe communication session, which can include voice communication signalexchanges between at least two of the devices 682, 684, via selectivelyestablishing point-to-point ad hoc network links 683 with each of thedevices 684A-D. Such establishing may be similar to the establishingillustrated above in FIG. 6A-E. In some embodiments, device 682 canconcurrently establish links 683 with multiple separate devices 684A-D.For example, device 682 can identify devices 684A-D as being within acertain geographic location 680, proximity to devices 682, etc. and canat least generate link queries for each of devices 684A-D based on suchidentifying.

In some embodiments, a wireless communication device enables acommunication session between one or more local wireless communicationdevices and one or more remote devices via a point-to-point ad hocnetwork link with the local wireless communication device and anotherseparate communication link with the remote device. The remote devicemay be located in a remote location, such that ad hoc network links withthe remote devices are precluded. In some embodiments, the remote devicecan be communicated with via one or more particular communication linksand is unable to communicate via point-to-point ad hoc network links. Aprimary device, which can include a wireless communication device whichcan establish and maintain both point-to-point ad hoc network links andat least one other separate communication link, can enable at leastindirect communication between the remote device and the one or morelocal devices via the separate links between the primary device and theremote and local devices. The primary device can synchronizecommunications between one or more local devices, linked with theprimary device via a point-to-point ad hoc network link, and one or moreremote devices linked with the primary devices via another separatenetwork link, so that the primary device, one or more local devices, andone or more remote devices can exchange communication signals in a“conference call” communication session.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 6F, for example, remote device 688can be located beyond region 680, such that device 688 is out of rangeof point-to-point ad hoc network communication with any of devices 682,684. Remote devices 688 can be structured to communicate via one or morecommunication links which are separate from point-to-point ad hocnetwork links; such a device may be located within the region 680 whichcan include the physical range in which device 682 can establishpoint-to-point ad hoc network links but unable to communicate via suchlinks 683.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 6F, device 682 is communicativelylinked with remote device 688 via network link 685 over network 686.Such a network link 685 will be understood to encompass knowncommunication links which are separate from point-to-point ad hocnetwork links, including telephonic communication links, LAN net-worklinks, cellular network links, satellite communication links, etc. Thelink 685 can be established via one or more of devices 682, 688. Asshown, device 682 is linked with devices 684A-D via point-to-point adhoc network links 683. As a result, devices 684A-D are communicativelylinked with remote devices 688 via device 682. Thus, voice communicationsignal exchanges between devices 684A-D and device 688 can be managed bydevice 682. Device 682 can include processing circuitry which convertssignals exchanged over link 685 to a state in which the signals can beexchanged over one or more links 683, and vice versa. In someembodiments, device 682 establishes one or more links 683 based on asignal received from device 688 over link 685. For example, device 682can, based on a command signal received from device 688 via link 685,generate link queries for transmission to one or more of devices 684 toestablish links 683.

In some embodiments, device 682 manages communication signal exchangesbetween devices 688 and 684A-D. For example, device 682 can routeincoming signals from device 688 over link 685 to all of devices 684 viathe separate links 683, so that users supported by the separate devices684 can each receive audio signals from device 688, and device 682 caninhibit voice signals from being communicated from one or more devices684A-D to one or more other devices 682, 684, 688. As a result, wheredevices 682, 684, 688 are engaged in a “conference call” communicationsession via links 683, 685, device 682 can cause selected devices 684,such as device 684A, to participate in a listening-only mode while otherselected devices, such as devices 688, 682, 684B-D, can send and receivevoice communication signals to each other. In some embodiments,communication settings are established by default based on the type oflink via which device 682 is linked to the respective devices. Forexample, devices 684 linked to device 682 via point-to-point ad hocnetwork links during a conference call session with a remote device 688over another link 685 may be restricted to communicating with otherdevices 682, 684, so that devices located within the common region 680are enabled to communicate with each other via point-to-point ad hocnetwork links and communication over link 685 is restricted to signalsgenerated at devices 682, 688.

FIG. 7 illustrates a process for establishing voice communication with aselected remote device via a wireless ad hoc network link, according tosome embodiments. The process 700 can be implemented by one or morecomputer systems, including one or more elements of a wirelesscommunication device in any of the above embodiments. For example, theprocess 700 can be implemented by one or more point-to-point voicecommunication modules included in one or more wireless communicationdevices to establish a point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link withone or more other devices and communicate voice communication signalswith the one or more other devices via the link.

At 702, a selection is made of one or more particular remote deviceswithin a sufficiently close proximity that a wireless ad hoc networkconnection can be established with the one or more remote devices. Sucha “sufficiently close” proximity can be based on the capabilities of awireless communication transceiver; the proximity which is “sufficientlyclose” can vary based at least in part upon the external environment,including the presence of various structures, materials, etc. Multipleremote devices can be within sufficiently close proximity, and aselection can be made of a particular remote device from the multipledevices. The particular remote device is selected as a “selected” remotedevice with which a wireless ad hoc network link will be attempted to beestablished, such that voice communication signals can be exchanged withthe selected remote device over the wireless ad hoc network link.

Selection of one or more particular remote devices can be based at leastin part upon a user interaction with one or more wireless communicationdevices, including a device executing the process 700. Such userinteraction can include user interaction with one or more userinterfaces of the device, including user interaction with a button,switch, etc.

In some embodiments, a user interface of the device includes a displayinterface, including a touchscreen, which can present, to the user, agraphical user interface associated with a wireless ad hoc voicecommunication application which includes various interactive elements(e.g., icons, graphical representations, etc.) with which the user caninteract, via interaction with the display interface, to indicate aselection of one or more particular remote devices. For example, where adisplay interface includes graphical representations of remote deviceswhich are in sufficiently close proximity to the device that the devicecan establish wireless ad hoc network links with one or more of thedevices, the user can interact, via touching a portion of the displayinterface on which the representation is displayed, interacting with acursor interface, etc. with the graphical representation of a particularremote device to indicate selection of the particular remote device. Insome embodiments, the graphical representation of a remote device on agraphical user interface includes an indication of one or moreparticular users supported by the remote device. For example, thegraphical representation can include an image associated with thesupported user, a name associated with the supported user, etc. The userinteraction which indicates a particular remote device can result ingeneration of a user command signal which commands selection of theparticular remote device.

In some embodiments, a user interface of the device includes an audiointerface, including a speaker, microphone, etc. which presents audiosignals indicating one or more various remote devices which are insufficiently close proximity to the device that the device can establishwireless ad hoc network links with one or more of the devices. Suchaudio signals can include audio recitations of user names of userssupported by, associated with, etc. the various remote devices. The usercan interact with the audio interface, one or more other userinterfaces, etc. to indicate selection of a particular one of the remotedevices. Such interaction can include the user providing a voice commandto a portion of the audio interface, including a microphone, commandingselection of a particular device, a device associated with a particularuser, etc. The user interaction which indicates a particular remotedevice can result in generation of a user command signal which commandsselection of the particular remote device.

At 704, a wireless ad hoc network link is established with the selectedremote device. Establishing the link can include transmitting a linkrequest signal to the selected remote device and receiving a linkacceptance signal from the selected remote device. The link requestsignal, also referred to herein as a “query”, can include a signal that,when received at the selected remote device, causes the remote device topresent a query message to a user supported by the selected remotedevice, via one or more user interfaces of the remote device. Asdiscussed further herein, where the one or more user interfaces includesa display interface, including a touchscreen, the query message can bepresented as a graphical message on a graphical user interfaceassociated with a wireless ad hoc voice communication application of theselected remote device. The graphical message can include a message tothe user requesting the user to provide instructions regarding whetherto accept, decline, ignore, etc. the link request signal. The graphicalmessage can include one or more interactive elements (e.g., icons,graphical representations, etc.) which are associated with variousseparate user commands, and the user can be invited, in the graphicalmessage, to interact with one or more of the interactive elements toindicate whether the user desires to accept the link request, declinesame, ignore same, etc.

Upon user indication of accepting the link request, the selected remotedevice can generate an acceptance signal. Upon receipt of the acceptancesignal, a device which generated the link request signal can establishthe wireless ad hoc network link with the selected remote device

At 706, one or more voice communication signals are exchanged with theselected remote device via the wireless ad hoc network link. Voicecommunication signals can include electronic signals, including digitalsignals, from which audio signals received at an audio interfaceassociated with a device are converted. In some embodiments, voicecommunication signals are received at an audio interface as electronicsignals, as the audio signals can be converted to electric signals at anexternal audio interface device, including a headset device, microphonedevice, etc. which is coupled to the device which enhances voicecommunication signals with the selected remote device over the wirelessad hoc network link.

Voice communication signals received at a device via an audio interfacecan transmit such voice communication signals to the selected remotedevice over the wireless ad hoc network link, and voice communicationsignals received at the device from the selected remote device over thewireless ad hoc network link can be converted to audio signals andprovided to a user supported by the device via one or more audiointerfaces.

The voice communication signal exchange, and the wireless ad hoc networklink, can be terminated in response to a termination command signal,where the termination command signals can be received at a device basedon a user interaction with the device via one or more user interfaces,received at the device from the selected remote device via the wirelessad hoc network link based on user interaction with a user interface ofthe remote device, etc.

FIG. 8 illustrates a process for exchanging voice communication signalswith a selected remote device via a wireless ad hoc network link,according to some embodiments. The process 800 can be implemented by oneor more computer systems, including one or more elements of a wirelesscommunication device in any of the above embodiments. For example, theprocess 800 can be implemented by one or more point-to-point voicecommunication modules included in one or more wireless communicationdevices to establish a point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link withone or more other devices and communicate voice communication signalswith the one or more other devices via the link.

At 802, a determination is made regarding whether a point-to-point voicecommunication application is initialized at a wireless communicationdevice. Such a determination can be made at one or more portions of thewireless communication device. Such initialization can be determinedbased at least in part upon user interaction with one or more userinterfaces of the wireless communication device. For example, where adevice includes a user interface which itself is a display interface(e.g., a touchscreen), initialization of the point-to-point voicecommunication application can be determined based at least in part upona determination that a user interaction has occurred with regard to aninteractive element (e.g., an icon, graphical representation, etc.)included in a graphical user interface, where the interactive element isassociated with the point-to-point voice communication application.

If, at 802 and 804, the determination is made that the point-to-pointvoice communication application is initialized at a wirelesscommunication device, a user interface associated with point-to-pointwireless ad hoc voice communication can be presented to a user via oneor more user interfaces of the wireless communication device. The one ormore user interfaces can be the same user interfaces via whichinitiation of the point-to-point voice communication application isdetermined, different user interfaces, some combination thereof, or thelike. A point-to-point voice communication application can beimplemented, initialized, terminated, etc. by one or more portions ofone or more computer systems, including some part of the modulesillustrated in FIG. 5. For example, in some embodiments, module 510 canimplement the application, which can include commanding module 504 topresent a GUI on a display interface, commanding transceiver 520 todetect proximate remote devices which also include a point-to-pointvoice communication application, command module 504 to presentinformation associated with the detected proximate remote devices viagraphical representations included in the GUI, etc.

Presenting a user interface can include presenting a graphical userinterface on a display interface of the wireless communication device. Agraphical user interface (GU) can present one or more of representationsof a proximity within which the device can establish wireless ad hocnetwork links, also referred to as the ad hoc network “range” of thedevice. A GUI can present one or more graphical representations of oneor more remote wireless communication devices within range of thewireless communication device presenting the GUI. Such graphicalrepresentations can be displayed at various locations on the display toindicate one or more of proximity and direction of the remote devices tothe device presenting the GU. Such graphical representations can includerepresentations of one or more various users associated with, supportedby, etc. the device, where such representations can include imagesassociated with the users, user names associated with the users, etc.

Presenting a user interface can include presenting audio signals to auser supported by the device via an audio interface of the wirelesscommunication device. Such audio signals can include audio indicationsof various remote wireless communication devices within range of thewireless communication device. Such audio signals can include audioindications of one or more various users supported by, associated with,etc. the one or more remote devices.

At 806, one or more various remote wireless communication devices, alsoreferred to herein as “remote devices”, which are within sufficientlyclose proximity to the wireless communication device such that thewireless communication device can establish wireless ad hoc networklinks with the respective devices are identified. Identifying remotedevices which are in “sufficiently close proximity” to the wirelesscommunication can be referred to as identifying remote devices which are“in range” of the wireless communication device. Such identification caninclude determining one or more aspects associated with a remote device,including user information of one or more users associated with theremote device, user information of one or more users presently beingsupported by the remote device, etc. Such user information can includeimage data, user name data, user identification data, etc. Identifyingremote devices “in range” of a wireless communication device can bereferred to as “detecting” same. Such identification can includeidentifying remote devices based on a determination that such remotedevices are presently configured to execute the point-to-point voicecommunication application. Such determination can include adetermination that program instructions executable by the remote devicesto execute the point-to-point voice communication application are storedin one or more memory devices of the remote devices.

At 808, indications of the remote devices determined to be “in range” ofa wireless communication device are presented to a user supported by thewireless communication device via one or more user interfaces of thewireless communication device. Such indications can include indicationsof one or more users associated with one or more of the remote devices,one or more users presently supported by the one or more remote devices,etc.

In some embodiments, such indications are presented as interactiveelements of a user interface of the wireless communication device. Forexample, where a wireless communication device includes a displayinterface which presents a GUI associated with a point-to-point wirelessad hoc network application, graphical representations of the remotedevices determined to be “in range” of the wireless communication devicecan be presented to a supported user via the GUI. Such graphicalrepresentations can be displayed at various locations on the GUI toindicate one or more of proximity and direction of the remote devices tothe wireless communication device. Such graphical representations caninclude representations of one or more various users associated with,supported by, etc. the device, where such representations can includeimages associated with the users, user names associated with the users,etc. In another example, where a wireless communication device includesan audio interface, audio signals associated with the remote devicesdetermined to be “in range” of the wireless communication device can bepresented to a supported user via a speaker device associated with theaudio interface. Such audio signals can include an audio messageindicating a name of one or more various users associated with theremote device, supported by the remote device, etc., an audio messageindicating one or more instances of user information associated with theremote device, etc.

At 810, a determination is made regarding whether to establish apoint-to-point wireless ad hoc network link between the wirelesscommunication device and one or more particular remote devices. Such adetermination can be based at least in part upon determining whether oneor more of the various remote devices which are “in range” of a wirelesscommunication device have been “selected” for point-to-point wireless adhoc voice communication with a user supported by the wirelesscommunication device. Such a determination can be based at least in partupon user interactions with the wireless communication device, includinguser interactions with one or more user interfaces of the wirelesscommunication device.

As discussed above, such user interactions can include user interactionwith a graphical representation of a particular remote device on a GUIpresented on a display interface of a wireless communication device,user interaction with an audio interface of the wireless communicationdevice, including one or more audio commands provided by the user,identifying a particular remote device, commanding establishment ofpoint-to-point wireless ad hoc voice communication with a user supportedby the particular remote device, some combination thereof, or the like.Identifying a particular remote device can include identifying one ormore users associated with the particular remote device, identifying oneor more users presently supported by the particular remote device, etc.

At 812, based at least upon a determination that a point-to-pointwireless ad hoc network link between a wireless communication device andone or more particular remote devices is commanded, one or more linkrequest signals (“queries”) are generated and transmitted to saidparticular remote devices. Such particular remote devices can bereferred to as “selected” remote devices. Link request signals cangenerated at the wireless communication device and transmitted toselected remote devices from same via one or more communicationnetworks, including one or more wireless ad hoc networks. Link requestsignals generated for transmission to a given selected remote device caninclude information specific to the selected remote device, including aquery message which specifically identifies a user associated with theselected remote device, a greeting message which can be selected frommultiple greeting messages based at least in part upon an identity ofthe user associated with the selected remote device, a greeting messagewhich can be selected from multiple greeting messages based at least inpart upon an identity of the user presently supported by the selectedremote device, some combination thereof, etc.

At 814, a determination is made regarding whether an acceptance signalis received at a wireless communication device from one or more selectedremote devices to which link request signals are transmitted. As shownat 816, if no acceptance signal is received from a given selected remotedevice within a certain period of elapsed time, if a denial message isreceived from the selected remote device, some combination thereof,etc., a denial message can be presented to a user supported by thewireless communication device via one or more user interfaces of thewireless communication device. The denial message can be presented as anaudio message via an audio interface of the wireless communicationdevice, a graphical message via a GUI, some combination thereof, etc.

At 818, in response to a determination that an acceptance signal isreceived at a wireless communication device from a selected remotedevice, a point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link is establishedbetween the wireless communication device and the selected remotedevice. As referred to herein, a “point-to-point” link can be referredto as a “peer-to-peer” link and refers to a link between two or moredevices without any intermediary devices included in the link. Such alink can also be referred to as a “direct” link. The point-to-pointwireless ad hoc network link, which can include a mobile ad hoc network(MANET) link, can be established via one or more various protocols,including Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi®, Wi-Fi Direct®, etc.

At 820, voice communication signals are exchanged between the wirelesscommunication device and the selected remote device via the one or morepoint-to-point wireless ad hoc network links established between thedevices. Such exchange can be two-way, such that each device in the linktransmits voice communication signals to one or more other devices inthe like; one-way, such that only one device transmits voicecommunication signals, etc.

At 822, a determination is made regarding whether a termination commandwhich indicates that a particular point-to-point wireless ad hoc networklink with a selected remote device is received at a wirelesscommunication device. A termination command can be received based onuser interaction with a device, including the selected remote device. Insome embodiments, a termination command is generated based at least inpart upon an absence of voice communication signals being received overthe point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link within a certain periodof elapsed time. If, as shown at 824, a determination is made that atermination command regarding a particular point-to-point wireless adhoc network link is received, the particular link is terminated. In someembodiments, where multiple point-to-point wireless ad hoc network linksare established between a wireless communication device and multipleremote devices, determination of receipt of a termination command withregard to one or more of the point-to-point wireless ad hoc networklinks can result in termination of the one or more point-to-pointwireless ad hoc network links while a remainder of the point-to-pointwireless ad hoc network links are maintained. In some embodiments, wheremultiple point-to-point wireless ad hoc network links are establishedbetween a wireless communication device and a single remote device,determination of receipt of a termination command with regard to aparticular one of the point-to-point wireless ad hoc network links,including the point-to-point wireless ad hoc network link via whichvoice communication signals are exchanged, can result in termination ofthe particular link associated with the termination command, while aremainder of the links are maintained.

At 826, a determination is made regarding whether to terminate thepoint-to-point voice communication application implemented at a wirelesscommunication device. Such a determination can be made with regard touser interaction with the wireless communication device, including auser interface of same. In some embodiments, such a determination can bemade based on a determination of an absence of user interaction with oneor more user interfaces, an absence of present point-to-point wirelessad hoc network links with the wireless communication device, somecombination thereof, etc. If so, as shown at 828, the point-to-pointvoice communication application is terminated.

As referred to herein with regard to at least process 800, the “wirelesscommunication device” referred to with regard to each of the elements802-828 of process 800 can be the same wireless communication devicethroughout some or all of the elements, different wireless communicationdevices throughout some or all of the elements, some combinationthereof, or the like. For example, each of elements 802-828 can beimplemented by one or more components of a single wireless communicationdevice In another example, at least some of elements 802-828 areimplemented by one or more components of a wireless communication deviceand at least some of elements 802-828 are implemented by one or morecomponents of another wireless communication device.

Multifunction Device Examples

Embodiments of electronic devices in which embodiments of voicecommunication modules as described herein may be used, user interfacesfor such devices, and associated processes for using such devices aredescribed. As noted above, in some embodiments, a voice communicationmodule is included in a wireless communication device. In someembodiments, the wireless communication device included in any of theabove embodiments includes a portable communications device, such as amobile telephone, that also contains other functions, such as PDA and/ormusic player functions. Other portable electronic devices, such aslaptops, cell phones, headset devices, pad devices, tablet computerswith touch-sensitive surfaces (e.g., touch screen displays and/or touchpads), wearable devices (e.g., a computer system incorporated into anarticle of clothing including hats, shoes, shirts, pants, etc.; awristwatch-type device which can be worn on a forearm, upper arm, leg,etc. and can include a user interface which can include one or moretouch-sensitive surfaces), some combination thereof, or the like mayalso be used. It should also be understood that, in some embodiments,the device is not a portable communications device, but is a desktopcomputer with a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., a touch screen displayand/or a touch pad). In some embodiments, the device is a gamingcomputer with orientation sensors (e.g., orientation sensors in a gamingcontroller). In other embodiments, the device is not a portablecommunications device, but is a camera device.

In the discussion that follows, an electronic device that includes adisplay and a touch-sensitive surface is described. It should beunderstood, however, that the electronic device may include one or moreother physical user-interface devices, such as a physical keyboard, amouse and/or a joystick.

The device typically supports a variety of applications, such as one ormore of the following: an ad hoc voice communication application, adrawing application, a presentation application, a word processingapplication, a website creation application, a disk authoringapplication, a spreadsheet application, a gaming application, atelephone application, a video conferencing application, an e-mailapplication, an instant messaging application, a workout supportapplication, a photo management application, a digital cameraapplication, a digital video camera application, a web browsingapplication, a digital music player application, and/or a digital videoplayer application.

The various applications that may be executed on the device may use atleast one common physical user-interface device, such as thetouch-sensitive surface. One or more functions of the touch-sensitivesurface as well as corresponding information displayed on the device maybe adjusted and/or varied from one application to the next and/or withina respective application. In this way, a common physical architecture(such as the touch-sensitive surface) of the device may support thevariety of applications with user interfaces that are intuitive andtransparent to the user.

Attention is now directed toward embodiments of portable devices withcameras. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating portable multifunctiondevice 900 in accordance with some embodiments. Embodiments of awireless communication device, as illustrated in at least FIG. 1-6, maybe included in device 900.

Device 900 may include memory 902 (which may include one or morecomputer readable storage mediums), memory controller 922, one or moreprocessing units (CPU's) 920, peripherals interface 918, RF circuitry908, audio circuitry 910, speaker 911, touch-sensitive display system912, microphone 913, input/output (I/O) subsystem 906, other input orcontrol devices 916, and external port 924. Device 900 may include oneor more optical sensors 964. These components may communicate over oneor more communication buses or signal lines 903.

It should be appreciated that device 900 is only one example of aportable multifunction device, and that device 900 may have more orfewer components than shown, may combine two or more components, or mayhave a different configuration or arrangement of the components. Thevarious components shown in FIG. 9 may be implemented in hardware,software, or a combination of hardware and software, including one ormore signal processing and/or application specific integrated circuits.

Memory 902 may include high-speed random access memory and may alsoinclude non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storagedevices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-state memorydevices. Access to memory 902 by other components of device 900, such asCPU 920 and the peripherals interface 918, may be controlled by memorycontroller 922.

Peripherals interface 918 can be used to couple input and outputperipherals of the device to CPU 920 and memory 902. The one or moreprocessors 920 run or execute various software programs and/or sets ofinstructions stored in memory 902 to perform various functions fordevice 900 and to process data.

In some embodiments, peripherals interface 918, CPU 920, and memorycontroller 922 may be implemented on a single chip, such as chip 904. Insome other embodiments, they may be implemented on separate chips.

RF (radio frequency) circuitry 908 receives and sends RF signals, alsocalled electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 908 converts electricalsignals to/from electromagnetic signals and communicates withcommunications networks and other communications devices via theelectromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 908 may include well-knowncircuitry for performing these functions, including but not limited toan antenna system, an RF transceiver, wireless communicationtransceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner, one or more oscillators, adigital signal processor, a CODEC chipset, a subscriber identity module(SIM) card, memory, and so forth. RF circuitry 908 may communicate withnetworks, such as the Internet, also referred to as the World Wide Web(WWW), an intranet and/or a wireless network, such as a cellulartelephone network, a wireless local area network (LAN) and/or ametropolitan area network (MAN), and other devices by wirelesscommunication. The wireless communication may use any of a variety ofcommunications standards, protocols and technologies, including but notlimited to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced DataGSM Environment (EDGE), high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA),high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA), wideband code division multipleaccess (W-CDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time divisionmultiple access (TDMA), Bluetooth, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) (e.g., IEEE802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g and/or IEEE 802.11n), voice overInternet Protocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX, a protocol for e-mail (e.g., Internetmessage access protocol (IMAP) and/or post office protocol (POP)),instant messaging (e.g., extensible messaging and presence protocol(XMPP), Session Initiation Protocol for Instant Messaging and PresenceLeveraging Extensions (SIMPLE), Instant Messaging and Presence Service(IMPS)), and/or Short Message Service (SMS), or any other suitablecommunication protocol, including communication protocols not yetdeveloped as of the filing date of this document. In some embodiments,RF circuitry 908 may establish one or more wireless ad hoc networklinks, and exchange signals over same, with one or more remote devices.Such ad hoc communication includes point-to-point wireless ad hoccommunication, including communication over one or more wireless ad hocnetwork links. A wireless ad hoc network link can include a mobile adhoc network link.

Audio circuitry 910, speaker 911, and microphone 913 provide an audiointerface between a user and device 900. Audio circuitry 910, which caninclude one or more audio communication interfaces, receives audio datafrom peripherals interface 918, converts the audio data to an electricalsignal, and transmits the electrical signal to speaker 911. Speaker 911converts the electrical signal to human-audible sound waves. Audiocircuitry 910 also receives electrical signals converted by microphone913 from sound waves. Audio circuitry 910 converts the electrical signalto audio data and transmits the audio data to peripherals interface 918for processing. Audio data may be retrieved from and/or transmitted tomemory 902 and/or RF circuitry 908 by peripherals interface 918. In someembodiments, audio circuitry 910 also includes a headset jack (e.g.,1012, FIG. 10). The headset jack provides an interface between audiocircuitry 910 and removable audio input/output peripherals, such asoutput-only headphones or a headset with both output (e.g., a headphonefor one or both ears) and input (e.g., a microphone).

I/O subsystem 906 couples input/output peripherals on device 900, suchas touch screen 912 and other input control devices 916, to peripheralsinterface 918. I/O subsystem 906 may include display controller 956 andone or more input controllers 960 for other input or control devices.The one or more input controllers 160 receive/send electrical signalsfrom/to other input or control devices 916. The other input controldevices 916 may include physical buttons (e.g., push buttons, rockerbuttons, etc.), dials, slider switches, joysticks, click wheels, and soforth. In some alternative embodiments, input controller(s) 960 may becoupled to any (or none) of the following: a keyboard, infrared port,USB port, and a pointer device such as a mouse. The one or more buttons(e.g., 1008, FIG. 10) may include an up/down button for volume controlof speaker 911 and/or microphone 913. The one or more buttons mayinclude a push button (e.g., 1006, FIG. 10).

Touch-sensitive display 912 provides an input interface and an outputinterface between the device and a user. Display controller 956 receivesand/or sends electrical signals from/to touch screen 912. Touch screen912 displays visual output to the user. The visual output may includegraphics, text, icons, video, and any combination thereof (collectivelytermed “graphics”). In some embodiments, some or all of the visualoutput may correspond to user-interface objects.

Touch screen 912 has a touch-sensitive surface, sensor or set of sensorsthat accepts input from the user based on haptic and/or tactile contact.Touch screen 912 and display controller 956 (along with any associatedmodules and/or sets of instructions in memory 902) detect contact (andany movement or breaking of the contact) on touch screen 912 andconverts the detected contact into interaction with user-interfaceobjects (e.g., one or more soft keys, icons, web pages or images) thatare displayed on touch screen 912. In an example embodiment, a point ofcontact between touch screen 912 and the user corresponds to a finger ofthe user.

Touch screen 912 may use LCD (liquid crystal display) technology, LPD(light emitting polymer display) technology, or LED (light emittingdiode) technology, although other display technologies may be used inother embodiments. Touch screen 912 and display controller 956 maydetect contact and any movement or breaking thereof using any of avariety of touch sensing technologies now known or later developed,including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, andsurface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other proximity sensorarrays or other elements for determining one or more points of contactwith touch screen 912. In an example embodiment, projected mutualcapacitance sensing technology may be used.

Touch screen 912 may have a video resolution in excess of 100 dots perinch (dpi). In some embodiments, the touch screen has a video resolutionof approximately 160 dpi. The user may make contact with touch screen912 using any suitable object or appendage, such as a stylus, a finger,and so forth. In some embodiments, the user interface is designed towork primarily with finger-based contacts and gestures, which can beless precise than stylus-based input due to the larger area of contactof a finger on the touch screen. In some embodiments, the devicetranslates the rough finger-based input into a precise pointer/cursorposition or command for performing the actions desired by the user.

In some embodiments, in addition to the touch screen, device 900 mayinclude a touchpad (not shown) for activating or deactivating particularfunctions. In some embodiments, the touchpad is a touch-sensitive areaof the device that, unlike the touch screen, does not display visualoutput. The touchpad may be a touch-sensitive surface that is separatefrom touch screen 912 or an extension of the touch-sensitive surfaceformed by the touch screen.

Device 900 also includes power system 962 for powering the variouscomponents. Power system 962 may include a power management system, oneor more power sources (e.g., battery, alternating current (AC)), arecharging system, a power failure detection circuit, a power converteror inverter, a power status indicator (e.g., a light-emitting diode(LED)) and any other components associated with the generation,management and distribution of power in portable devices.

Device 900 may also include one or more optical sensors or cameras 964.FIG. 9 shows an optical sensor coupled to optical sensor controller 958in I/O subsystem 906. Optical sensor 964 may include charge-coupleddevice (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS)phototransistors. Optical sensor 964 receives light from theenvironment, projected through one or more lens, and converts the lightto data representing an image. In conjunction with imaging module 943(also called a camera module), optical sensor 964 may capture stillimages or video. In some embodiments, an optical sensor is located onthe back of device 900, opposite touch screen display 912 on the frontof the device, so that the touch screen display may be used as aviewfinder for still and/or video image acquisition. In someembodiments, another optical sensor is located on the front of thedevice so that the user's image may be obtained for videoconferencingwhile the user views the other videoconference participants on the touchscreen display.

Device 900 may also include one or more proximity sensors 966. FIG. 9shows proximity sensor 966 coupled to peripherals interface 918.Alternatively, proximity sensor 966 may be coupled to input controller960 in I/O subsystem 906. In some embodiments, the proximity sensorturns off and disables touch screen 912 when the multifunction device isplaced near the user's ear (e.g., when the user is making a phone call).

Device 900 includes one or more orientation sensors 968. In someembodiments, the one or more orientation sensors include one or moreaccelerometers (e.g., one or more linear accelerometers and/or one ormore rotational accelerometers). In some embodiments, the one or moreorientation sensors include one or more gyroscopes. In some embodiments,the one or more orientation sensors include one or more magnetometers.In some embodiments, the one or more orientation sensors include one ormore of global positioning system (GPS), Global Navigation SatelliteSystem (GLONASS), and/or other global navigation system receivers. TheGPS, GLONASS, and/or other global navigation system receivers may beused for obtaining information concerning the location and orientation(e.g., portrait or landscape) of device 900. In some embodiments, theone or more orientation sensors include any combination oforientation/rotation sensors. FIG. 9 shows the one or more orientationsensors 968 coupled to peripherals interface 918. Alternatively, the oneor more orientation sensors 968 may be coupled to an input controller960 in I/O subsystem 906. In some embodiments, information is displayedon the touch screen display in a portrait view or a landscape view basedon an analysis of data received from the one or more orientationsensors.

In some embodiments, the software components stored in memory 902include operating system 926, communication module (or set ofinstructions) 928, contact/motion module (or set of instructions) 930,graphics module (or set of instructions) 932, text input module (or setof instructions) 934, Global Positioning System (GPS) module (or set ofinstructions) 935, arbiter module 957 and applications (or sets ofinstructions) 936. Furthermore, in some embodiments memory 902 storesdevice/global internal state 957. Device/global internal state 957includes one or more of: active application state, indicating whichapplications, if any, are currently active; display state, indicatingwhat applications, views or other information occupy various regions oftouch screen display 912; sensor state, including information obtainedfrom the device's various sensors and input control devices 916; andlocation information concerning the device's location and/or attitude.

Operating system 926 (e.g., Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, WINDOWS, oran embedded operating system such as VxWorks) includes various softwarecomponents and/or drivers for controlling and managing general systemtasks (e.g., memory management, storage device control, powermanagement, etc.) and facilitates communication between various hardwareand software components.

Communication module 928 facilitates communication with other devicesover one or more external ports 924 and also includes various softwarecomponents for handling data received by RF circuitry 908 and/orexternal port 924. External port 924 (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB),FIREWIRE, etc) is adapted for coupling directly to other devices orindirectly over a network (e.g., the Internet, wireless LAN, etc.).

Contact/motion module 930 may detect contact with touch screen 912 (inconjunction with display controller 956) and other touch sensitivedevices (e.g., a touchpad or physical click wheel). Contact/motionmodule 930 includes various software components for performing variousoperations related to detection of contact, such as determining ifcontact has occurred (e.g., detecting a finger-down event), determiningif there is movement of the contact and tracking the movement across thetouch-sensitive surface (e.g., detecting one or more finger-draggingevents), and determining if the contact has ceased (e.g., detecting afinger-up event or a break in contact). Contact/motion module 930receives contact data from the touch-sensitive surface. Determiningmovement of the point of contact, which is represented by a series ofcontact data may include determining speed (magnitude), velocity(magnitude and direction), and/or an acceleration (a change in magnitudeand/or direction) of the point of contact. These operations may beapplied to single contacts (e.g., one finger contacts) or to multiplesimultaneous contacts (e.g., “multitouch”/multiple finger contacts). Insome embodiments, contact/motion module 930 and display controller 956detect contact on a touchpad.

Contact/motion module 930 may detect a gesture input by a user.Different gestures on the touch-sensitive surface have different contactpatterns. Thus, a gesture may be detected by detecting a particularcontact pattern. For example, detecting a finger tap gesture includesdetecting a finger-down event followed by detecting a finger-up (liftof) event at the same position (or substantially the same position) asthe finger-down event (e.g., at the position of an icon). As anotherexample, detecting a finger swipe gesture on the touch-sensitive surfaceincludes detecting a finger-down event followed by detecting one or morefinger-dragging events, and subsequently followed by detecting afinger-up (lift off) event.

Graphics module 932 includes various known software components forrendering and displaying graphics on touch screen 912 or other display,including components for changing the intensity of graphics that aredisplayed. As used herein, the term “graphics” includes any object thatcan be displayed to a user, including without limitation text, webpages, icons (such as user-interface objects including soft keys),digital images, videos, animations and the like.

In some embodiments, graphics module 932 stores data representinggraphics to be used. Each graphic may be assigned a corresponding code.Graphics module 932 receives, from applications etc., one or more codesspecifying graphics to be displayed along with, if necessary, coordinatedata and other graphic property data, and then generates screen imagedata to output to display controller 956.

Text input module 934, which may be a component of graphics module 932,provides soft keyboards for entering text in various applications (e.g.,contacts 937, e-mail 940, IM 141, browser 947, and any other applicationthat needs text input).

GPS module 935 determines the location of the device and provides thisinformation for use in various applications (e.g., to telephone 938 foruse in location-based dialing, to camera module 943 as picture/videometadata, and to applications that provide location-based services suchas weather widgets, local yellow page widgets, and map/navigationwidgets).

Applications 936 may include the following modules (or sets ofinstructions), or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   contacts module 937 (sometimes called an address book or contact        list);    -   telephone module 938;    -   video conferencing module 939;    -   e-mail client module 940;    -   instant messaging (IM) module 941;    -   workout support module 942,    -   camera module 943 for still and/or video images;    -   image management module 944;    -   browser module 947;    -   calendar module 948;    -   widget modules 949, which may include one or more of: weather        widget 949-1, stocks widget 949-2, calculator widget 949-3,        alarm clock widget 9494, dictionary widget 949-5, and other        widgets obtained by the user, as well as user-created widgets        949-6;    -   widget creator module 950 for making user-created widgets 949-6;    -   search module 951;    -   video and music player module 952, which may be made up of a        video player    -   module and a music player module;    -   notes module 953;    -   map module 954; and/or    -   online video module 955.

Examples of other applications 936 that may be stored in memory 902include other word processing applications, other image editingapplications, drawing applications, presentation applications,JAVA-enabled applications, encryption, digital rights management, voicerecognition, and voice replication.

In conjunction with touch screen 912, display controller 956, contactmodule 930, graphics module 932, and text input module 934, contactsmodule 937 may be used to manage an address book or contact list (e.g.,stored in application internal state 992 of contacts module 937 inmemory 902), including: adding name(s) to the address book; deletingname(s) from the address book; associating telephone numbers), e-mailaddress(es), physical address(es) or other information with a name;associating an image with a name; categorizing and sorting names;providing telephone numbers or e-mail addresses to initiate and/orfacilitate communications by telephone 938, video conference 939, e-mail940, or IM 941; and so forth.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 908, audio circuitry 910, speaker 911,microphone 913, touch screen 912, display controller 956, contact module930, graphics module 932, and text input module 934, telephone module938 may be used to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to atelephone number, access one or more telephone numbers in address book937, modify a telephone number that has been entered, dial a respectivetelephone number, conduct a conversation and disconnect or hang up whenthe conversation is completed. As noted above, the wirelesscommunication may use any of a variety of communications standards,protocols and technologies.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 908, audio circuitry 910, speaker 911,microphone 913, touch screen 912, display controller 956, optical sensor964, optical sensor controller 958, contact module 930, graphics module932, text input module 934, contact list 937, and telephone module 938,videoconferencing module 99 includes executable instructions toinitiate, conduct, and terminate a video conference between a user andone or more other participants in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 908, touch screen 912, displaycontroller 956, contact module 930, graphics module 932, and text inputmodule 934, e-mail client module 940 includes executable instructions tocreate, send, receive, and manage e-mail in response to userinstructions. In conjunction with image management module 944, e-mailclient module 940 makes it very easy to create and send e-mails withstill or video images taken with camera module 943.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 908, touch screen 912, displaycontroller 956, contact module 930, graphics module 932, and text inputmodule 934, the instant messaging module 941 includes executableinstructions to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to aninstant message, to modify previously entered characters, to transmit arespective instant message (for example, using a Short Message Service(SMS) or Multimedia Message Service (MMS) protocol for telephony-basedinstant messages or using XMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS for Internet-basedinstant messages), to receive instant messages and to view receivedinstant messages. In some embodiments, transmitted and/or receivedinstant messages may include graphics, photos, audio files, video filesand/or other attachments as are supported in a MMS and/or an EnhancedMessaging Service (EMS). As used herein, “instant messaging” refers toboth telephony-based messages (e.g., messages sent using SMS or MMS) andInternet-based messages (e.g., messages sent using XMPP, SIMPLE, orIMPS).

In conjunction with RF circuitry 908, touch screen 912, displaycontroller 956, contact module 930, graphics module 932, text inputmodule 934, GPS module 935, map module 954, and music player module 946,workout support module 942 includes executable instructions to createworkouts (e.g., with time, distance, and/or calorie burning goals);communicate with workout sensors (sports devices); receive workoutsensor data; calibrate sensors used to monitor a workout; select andplay music for a workout; and display, store and transmit workout data.

In conjunction with touch screen 912, display controller 956, opticalsensor(s) 964, optical sensor controller 958, contact module 930,graphics module 932, and image management module 944, camera module 943includes executable instructions to capture still images or video(including a video stream) and store them into memory 902, modifycharacteristics of a still image or video, or delete a still image orvideo from memory 902.

In conjunction with touch screen 912, display controller 956, contactmodule 930, graphics module 932, text input module 934, and cameramodule 943, image management module 944 includes executable instructionsto arrange, modify (e.g., edit), or otherwise manipulate, label, delete,present (e.g., in a digital slide show or album), and store still and/orvideo images.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 908, touch screen 912, display systemcontroller 956, contact module 930, graphics module 932, and text inputmodule 934, browser module 947 includes executable instructions tobrowse the Internet in accordance with user instructions, includingsearching, linking to, receiving, and displaying web pages or portionsthereof, as well as attachments and other files linked to web pages.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 908, touch screen 912, display systemcontroller 956, contact module 930, graphics module 932, text inputmodule 934, e-mail client module 940, and browser module 947, calendarmodule 948 includes executable instructions to create, display, modify,and store calendars and data associated with calendars (e.g., calendarentries, to do lists, etc.) in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 908, touch screen 912, display systemcontroller 956, contact module 930, graphics module 932, text inputmodule 934, and browser module 947, widget modules 949 aremini-applications that may be downloaded and used by a user (e.g.,weather widget 949-1, stocks widget 949-2, calculator widget 9493, alarmclock widget 949-4, and dictionary widget 949-5) or created by the user(e.g., user-created widget 949-6). In some embodiments, a widgetincludes an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) file, a CSS (CascadingStyle Sheets) file, and a JavaScript file. In some embodiments, a widgetincludes an XML (Extensible Markup Language) file and a JavaScript file(e.g., Yahoo! Widgets).

In conjunction with RF circuitry 908, touch screen 912, display systemcontroller 956, contact module 930, graphics module 932, text inputmodule 934, and browser module 947, the widget creator module 950 may beused by a user to create widgets (e.g., turning a user-specified portionof a web page into a widget).

In conjunction with touch screen 912, display system controller 956,contact module 930, graphics module 932, and text input module 934,search module 951 includes executable instructions to search for text,music, sound, image, video, and/or other files in memory 902 that matchone or more search criteria (e.g., one or more user-specified searchterms) in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with touch screen 912, display system controller 956,contact module 930, graphics module 932, audio circuitry 910, speaker911, RF circuitry 908, and browser module 947, video and music playermodule 952 includes executable instructions that allow the user todownload and play back recorded music and other sound files stored inone or more file formats, such as MP3 or AAC files, and executableinstructions to display, present or otherwise play back videos (e.g., ontouch screen 912 or on an external, connected display via external port924). In some embodiments, device 900 may include the functionality ofan MP3 player.

In conjunction with touch screen 912, display controller 956, contactmodule 930, graphics module 932, and text input module 934, notes module953 includes executable instructions to create and manage notes, to dolists, and the like in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 908, touch screen 912, display systemcontroller 956, contact module 930, graphics module 932, text inputmodule 934, GPS module 935, and browser module 947, map module 954 maybe used to receive, display, modify, and store maps and data associatedwith maps (e.g., driving directions, data on stores and other points ofinterest at or near a particular location; and other location-baseddata) in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with touch screen 912, display system controller 956,contact module 930, graphics module 932, audio circuitry 910, speaker911, RF circuitry 908, text input module 934, e-mail client module 940,and browser module 947, online video module 955 includes instructionsthat allow the user to access, browse, receive (e.g., by streamingand/or download), play back (e.g., on the touch screen or on anexternal, connected display via external port 924), send an e-mail witha link to a particular online video, and otherwise manage online videosin one or more file formats, such as H.264. In some embodiments, instantmessaging module 941, rather than e-mail client module 940, is used tosend a link to a particular online video.

Each of the above identified modules and applications correspond to aset of executable instructions for performing one or more functionsdescribed above and the methods described in this application (e.g., thecomputer-implemented methods and other information processing methodsdescribed herein). These modules (i.e., sets of instructions) need notbe implemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, andthus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwisere-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory 902 maystore a subset of the modules and data structures identified above.Furthermore, memory 902 may store additional modules and data structuresnot described above.

In some embodiments, device 900 is a device where operation of apredefined set of functions on the device is performed exclusivelythrough a touch screen and/or a touchpad. By using a touch screen and/ora touchpad as the primary input control device for operation of device900, the number of physical input control devices (such as push buttons,dials, and the like) on device 900 may be reduced.

The predefined set of functions that may be performed exclusivelythrough a touch screen and/or a touchpad include navigation between userinterfaces. In some embodiments, the touchpad, when touched by the user,navigates device 900 to a main, home, or root menu from any userinterface that may be displayed on device 900. In such embodiments, thetouchpad may be referred to as a “menu button.” In some otherembodiments, the menu button may be a physical push button or otherphysical input control device instead of a touchpad.

FIG. 10 illustrates a portable multifunction device 900 having a touchscreen 912 in accordance with some embodiments. The touch screen maydisplay one or more graphics, also referred to herein as graphicalrepresentations, icons, etc., within user interface (UI) 1000. UI 1000can include a graphical user interface (GUI). In this embodiment, aswell as others described below, a user may select one or more of thegraphics by making a gesture on the graphics, for example, with one ormore fingers 1002 (not drawn to scale in the Figure) or one or morestyluses 1003 (not drawn to scale in the figure).

Device 900 may also include one or more physical buttons, such as “home”or menu button 1004. As described previously, menu button 1004 may beused to navigate to any application 936 in a set of applications thatmay be executed on device 900. Alternatively, in some embodiments, themenu button is implemented as a soft key in a graphics user interface(GUI) displayed on touch screen 912.

In one embodiment, device 900 includes touch screen 912, menu button1004, push button 1006 for powering the device on/off and locking thedevice, volume adjustment button(s) 1008, Subscriber Identity Module(SIM) card slot 1010, head set jack 1012, and docking/charging externalport 924. Push button 1006 may be used to turn the power on/off on thedevice by depressing the button and holding the button in the depressedstate for a predefined time interval; to lock the device by depressingthe button and releasing the button before the predefined time intervalhas elapsed; and/or to unlock the device or initiate an unlock process.In an alternative embodiment, device 900 also may accept verbal inputfor activation or deactivation of some functions through microphone 913.

It should be noted that, although many of the examples herein are givenwith reference to optical sensor/camera 964 (on the front of a device),a rear-facing camera or optical sensor that is pointed opposite from thedisplay may be used instead of or in addition to an opticalsensor/camera 964 on the front of a device. Embodiments of an actuatormodule 100 that includes passive damping for optical image stabilization(OIS) may be used in the optical sensor/camera(s) 964.

Example Computer System

FIG. 11 illustrates an example computer system 1100 that may beconfigured to include or execute any or all of the embodiments describedabove. In different embodiments, computer system 1100 may be any ofvarious types of devices, including, but not limited to, a personalcomputer system, desktop computer, laptop, notebook, tablet, slate, pad,or netbook computer, cell phone, smartphone, PDA, portable media device,mainframe computer system, handheld computer, workstation, networkcomputer, a camera or video camera, a set top box, a mobile device, aconsumer device, video game console, handheld video game device,application server, storage device, a television, a video recordingdevice, a peripheral device such as a switch, modem, router, or ingeneral any type of computing or electronic device.

Various embodiments of a point-to-point wireless ad hoc voicecommunication system, as described herein, may be executed in one ormore computer systems 1100, which may interact with various otherdevices. Note that any component, action, or functionality describedabove with respect to FIGS. 1 through 10 may be implemented on one ormore computers configured as computer system 1100 of FIG. 11, accordingto various embodiments. In the illustrated embodiment, computer system1100 includes one or more processors 1110 coupled to a system memory1120 via an input/output (I/O) interface 1130. Computer system 1100further includes a network interface 1140 coupled to I/O interface 1130,and one or more input/output devices 1150, such as cursor control device1160, keyboard 1170, and display(s) 1180. In some cases, it iscontemplated that embodiments may be implemented using a single instanceof computer system 1100, while in other embodiments multiple suchsystems, or multiple nodes making up computer system 1100, may beconfigured to host different portions or instances of embodiments. Forexample, in one embodiment some elements may be implemented via one ormore nodes of computer system 1100 that are distinct from those nodesimplementing other elements.

In various embodiments, computer system 1100 may be a uniprocessorsystem including one processor 1110, or a multiprocessor systemincluding several processors 1110 (e.g., two, four, eight, or anothersuitable number). Processors 1110 may be any suitable processor capableof executing instructions. For example, in various embodimentsprocessors 1110 may be general-purpose or embedded processorsimplementing any of a variety of instruction set architectures (ISAs),such as the x86, PowerPC, SPARC, or MIPS ISAs, or any other suitableISA. In multiprocessor systems, each of processors 1110 may commonly,but not necessarily, implement the same ISA

System memory 1120 may be configured to store camera control programinstructions 1122 and/or voice communication control data accessible byprocessor 1110. In various embodiments, system memory 1120 may beimplemented using any suitable memory technology, such as static randomaccess memory (SRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM),nonvolatile/Flash-type memory, or any other type of memory. In theillustrated embodiment, program instructions 1122 may be configured toimplement a point-to-point voice communication application incorporatingany of the functionality described above. Additionally, programinstructions 1122 of memory 1120 may include any of the information ordata structures described above. In some embodiments, programinstructions and/or data may be received, sent or stored upon differenttypes of computer-accessible media or on similar media separate fromsystem memory 1120 or computer system 1100. While computer system 1100is described as implementing the functionality of functional blocks ofprevious Figures, any of the functionality described herein may beimplemented via such a computer system.

In one embodiment, I/O interface 1130 may be configured to coordinateI/O traffic between processor 1110, system memory 1120, and anyperipheral devices in the device, including network interface 1140 orother peripheral interfaces, such as input/output devices 1150. In someembodiments, I/O interface 1130 may perform any necessary protocol,timing or other data transformations to convert data signals from onecomponent (e.g., system memory 1120) into a format suitable for use byanother component (e.g., processor 1110). In some embodiments, I/Ointerface 1130 may include support for devices attached through varioustypes of peripheral buses, such as a variant of the Peripheral ComponentInterconnect (PCI) bus standard or the Universal Serial Bus (USB)standard, for example. In some embodiments, the function of I/Ointerface 1130 may be split into two or more separate components, suchas a north bridge and a south bridge, for example. Also, in someembodiments some or all of the functionality of I/O interface 1130, suchas an interface to system memory 1120, may be incorporated directly intoprocessor 1110.

Network interface 1140 may be configured to allow data to be exchangedbetween computer system 1100 and other devices attached to a network1185 (e.g., carrier or agent devices) or between nodes of computersystem 1100. Network 1185 may in various embodiments include one or morenetworks including but not limited to Local Area Networks (LANs) (e.g.,an Ethernet or corporate network), Wide Area Networks (WANs) (e.g., theInternet), wireless data networks, some other electronic data network,or some combination thereof. In various embodiments, network interface1140 may support communication via wired or wireless general datanetworks, such as any suitable type of Ethernet network, for example;via telecommunications/telephony networks such as analog voice networksor digital fiber communications networks; via storage area networks suchas Fibre Channel SANs, or via any other suitable type of network and/orprotocol.

Input/output devices 1150 may, in some embodiments, include one or moredisplay terminals, keyboards, keypads, touchpads, scanning devices,voice or optical recognition devices, or any other devices suitable forentering or accessing data by one or more computer systems 1100.Multiple input/output devices 1150 may be present in computer system1100 or may be distributed on various nodes of computer system 1100. Insome embodiments, similar input/output devices may be separate fromcomputer system 1100 and may interact with one or more nodes of computersystem 1100 through a wired or wireless connection, such as over networkinterface 1140.

As shown in FIG. 11, memory 1120 may include program instructions 1122,which may be processor-executable to implement any element or actiondescribed above In one embodiment, the program instructions mayimplement the methods described above. In other embodiments, differentelements and data may be included. Note that data may include any dataor information described above.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that computer system 1100 ismerely illustrative and is not intended to limit the scope ofembodiments. In particular, the computer system and devices may includeany combination of hardware or software that can perform the indicatedfunctions, including computers, network devices, Internet appliances,PDAs, wireless phones, pagers, etc. Computer system 1100 may also beconnected to other devices that are not illustrated, or instead mayoperate as a stand-alone system. In addition, the functionality providedby the illustrated components may in some embodiments be combined infewer components or distributed in additional components. Similarly, insome embodiments, the functionality of some of the illustratedcomponents may not be provided and/or other additional functionality maybe available.

Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that, while various itemsare illustrated as being stored in memory or on storage while beingused, these items or portions of them may be transferred between memoryand other storage devices for purposes of memory management and dataintegrity. Alternatively, in other embodiments some or all of thesoftware components may execute in memory on another device andcommunicate with the illustrated computer system via inter-computercommunication. Some or all of the system components or data structuresmay also be stored (e.g., as instructions or structured data) on acomputer-accessible medium or a portable article to be read by anappropriate drive, various examples of which are described above. Insome embodiments, instructions stored on a computer-accessible mediumseparate from computer system 1100 may be transmitted to computer system1100 via transmission media or signals such as electrical,electromagnetic, or digital signals, conveyed via a communication mediumsuch as a network and/or a wireless link. Various embodiments mayfurther include receiving, sending or storing instructions and/or dataimplemented in accordance with the foregoing description upon acomputer-accessible medium. Generally speaking, a computer-accessiblemedium may include a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium ormemory medium such as magnetic or optical media, e.g., disk orDVD/CD-ROM, volatile or non-volatile media such as RAM (e.g. SDRAM, DDR,RDRAM, SRAM, etc.), ROM, etc. In some embodiments, a computer-accessiblemedium may include transmission media or signals such as electrical,electromagnetic, or digital signals, conveyed via a communication mediumsuch as network and/or a wireless link.

The methods described herein may be implemented in software, hardware,or a combination thereof, in different embodiments. In addition, theorder of the blocks of the methods may be changed, and various elementsmay be added, reordered, combined, omitted, modified, etc. Variousmodifications and changes may be made as would be obvious to a personskilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. The variousembodiments described herein are meant to be illustrative and notlimiting. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvementsare possible. Accordingly, plural instances may be provided forcomponents described herein as a single instance. Boundaries betweenvarious components, operations and data stores are somewhat arbitrary,and particular operations are illustrated in the context of specificillustrative configurations. Other allocations of functionality areenvisioned and may fall within the scope of claims that follow. Finally,structures and functionality presented as discrete components in theexample configurations may be implemented as a combined structure orcomponent. These and other variations, modifications, additions, andimprovements may fall within the scope of embodiments as defined in theclaims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. An audio device, comprising: a wirelessinterface; and one or more processors and memory configured to: causethe audio device to transmit a signal identifying, to a user of theaudio device, one or more other devices within a specified communicationrange of the audio device; receive an input by the user of the audiodevice selecting at least one other device from the one or more otherdevices within the specified communication range of the audio device;establish, using the wireless interface, a point-to-point orpoint-to-multipoint voice communication session between the audio deviceand the at least one other device; and transmit one or more voicecommunication signals to the at least one other device using thepoint-to-point or point-to-multipoint voice communication session. 2.The audio device of claim 1, wherein each of the audio device and the atleast one other device comprises a headphone.
 3. The audio device ofclaim 1, wherein the audio device comprises an audio interfaceconfigured to receive an audio command selecting the at least one otherdevice.
 4. The audio device of claim 1, wherein the audio device isconfigured to receive the input selecting the at least one other devicefrom a mobile device that is coupled to the audio device using thewireless interface.
 5. The audio device of claim 1, wherein the voicecommunication session is established over an ad hoc point-to-pointnetwork link between the audio device and the at least one other devicethat does not include any intermediary devices.
 6. The audio device ofclaim 1, wherein the signal identifying the one or more other deviceswithin the specified communication range of the audio device comprisesan audio signal.
 7. An apparatus of an audio device, comprising:processing circuitry configured to: cause the audio device to transmit asignal identifying, to a user of the audio device, one or more otherdevices within a specified communication range of the audio device;receive an input by the user of the audio device selecting at least oneother device from the one or more other devices within the specifiedcommunication range of the audio device; and cause a point-to-point orpoint-to-multipoint voice communication session to be establishedbetween the audio device and the at least one other device; andcommunication circuitry configured to transmit one or more voicecommunication signals to the at least one other device using thepoint-to-point or point-to-multipoint voice communication session. 8.The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each of the audio device and the atleast one other device comprises a headphone.
 9. The apparatus of claim7, wherein the input comprises an audio command selecting the at leastone other device.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the inputselecting the at least one other device is received from a mobile devicethat is coupled to the audio device.
 11. The apparatus of claim 7,wherein the voice communication session is established over an ad hocpoint-to-point network link between the audio device and the at leastone other device that does not include any intermediary devices.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 7, wherein the signal identifying the one or moreother devices within the specified communication range of the audiodevice comprises an audio signal.
 13. An audio device, comprising: awireless interface; and one or more processors and memory configured to:receive, using the wireless interface, a request to establish apoint-to-point or point-to-multipoint voice communication session withat least one other device within a specified communication range of theaudio device; causing the audio device to transmit a signal identifying,to a user of the audio device, the at least one other device in responseto receiving the request to establish the point-to-point orpoint-to-multipoint voice communication session; transmit, using thewireless interface, a signal indicating an acceptance of the request toestablish the point-to-point or point-to-multipoint voice communicationsession with the at least one other device; and receive one or morevoice communication signals from the at least one other device using thepoint-to-point or point-to-multipoint voice communication session. 14.The audio device of claim 13, wherein each of the audio device and theat least one other device comprises a headphone.
 15. The audio device ofclaim 13, wherein the audio device comprises an audio interfaceconfigured to receive an audio command accepting the request toestablish the point-to-point or point-to-multipoint voice communicationsession.
 16. The audio device of claim 13, wherein the audio device isconfigured to receive an input accepting the request to establish thepoint-to-point or point-to-multipoint voice communication session from amobile device that is coupled to the audio device using the wirelessinterface.
 17. The audio device of claim 13, wherein the voicecommunication session is established over an ad hoc point-to-pointnetwork link between the audio device and the at least one other devicethat does not include any intermediary devices.
 18. The audio device ofclaim 13, wherein the signal identifying the at least one other devicecomprises an audio signal.
 19. A method, comprising: receiving, at anaudio device, a request to establish a point-to-point orpoint-to-multipoint voice communication session with at least one otherdevice within a specified communication range of the audio device;transmitting, by the audio device, a signal identifying, to a user ofthe audio device, the at least one other device in response to receivingthe request to establish the point-to-point or point-to-multipoint voicecommunication session; transmitting a signal indicating an acceptance ofthe request to establish the point-to-point or point-to-multipoint voicecommunication session with the at least one other device; and receivingone or more voice communication signals from the at least one otherdevice using the point-to-point or point-to-multipoint voicecommunication session.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein each of theaudio device and the at least one other device comprises a headphone.21. The method of claim 19, comprising receiving, at the audio device,an audio command accepting the request to establish the point-to-pointor point-to-multipoint voice communication session.
 22. The method ofclaim 19, comprising receiving, at the audio device, an input acceptingthe request to establish the point-to-point or point-to-multipoint voicecommunication session from a mobile device that is coupled to the audiodevice.
 23. The method of claim 19, wherein the voice communicationsession is established over an ad hoc point-to-point network linkbetween the audio device and the at least one other device that does notinclude any intermediary devices.
 24. The method of claim 19, whereinthe signal identifying the at least one other device comprises an audiosignal.